One millimeter is fatal for the world champions: Sweden beats the United States after stunning penalty kicks | Women’s World Cup

120 minutes of football did not yield a goal, partly due to goalkeeper Zećira Mušović getting the better of the Swedish side and an American header that was too high over the crossbar. Undoubtedly, the United States had the greatest opportunities, but it turned out that it was not decisive enough. This is why the penalties were imposed. After the first five penalty kicks were executed flawlessly, things went wrong no less than four times in a row. With the score at 4-4, American Kelly O’Hara missed, and Lena Hurtig scored for Sweden, although goal-line technology had to be used. It turned out that the ball was one millimeter from the line.

Eliminating the United States is a great feeling. The country, which has been known for years as the world’s top women’s football nation, became champions in the last two World Cups, in 2019 by defeating the Orange Lionesses in the final. In total, the United States became a four-time world champion and four-time Olympic champion. It is no coincidence that America ranks first in the FIFA world rankings.

It was a bad sign that the Netherlands beat America in the group stage of the World Cup. After a modest victory over Vietnam (3-0) and a draw with the Lionesses (1-1), the United States did not leave much of an impression in the last match in the group stage against Portugal (0-0). In fact, Portugal hit the post in stoppage time, and could have sealed America’s fate with that shot earlier.

As runner-up in the group, the USA immediately faced a tough matchup in the final eight against Sweden. It turned out to be a very difficult task, with Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and O’Hara all missing penalties, while Sweden only missed two. It’s not the first major nation to fall early in the tournament: Olympic champions Canada, Germany and Brazil have already failed in the group stage.

The Orange Lionesses play their quarter-final match against Spain on Friday morning at 3:00 AM (Dutch time), and a few hours later (9:30 AM) it is the turn of Japan and Sweden. The winners of those matches will face each other on Tuesday 15 August (10am).