Sweden 0-0 USA: Swedes knock Americans and Megan Rapinoe out in drama-filled penalty shootout

Chelsea’s Zecira Musovic was the star as Sweden dumped two-time defending champions USA and their retiring superstar Megan Rapinoe out of the Women’s World Cup with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory in Melbourne.

Peter Gerhardsson’s Swedes frustrated the Stars and Stripes for long spells and secured a 5-4 win via spot kicks after the contest had finished 0-0 following extra time.

Lina Hurtig’s winning kick just about squirmed over the line and needed to be checked by VAR as the Scandinavians edged through in sudden death after Kelley O’Hara’s penalty had hit the post.

It was perhaps no surprise that it proved to be a tight contest between two countries who have faced off more times than in any other fixture in Women’s World Cup history.

Sweden sat deep and mainly threatened from set pieces while the USA almost broke the deadlock when Lindsey Horan hit the crossbar with a 35th-minute header.

It was Horan who went close again following the restart but her superb first-time strike off a cross from the right was brilliantly tipped past the post by Zecira Musovic.

Sweden rarely made much impact in open play with substitute Sofia Jakobsson flashing their first attempt on target straight at Alyssa Naeher on 85 minutes.

USA almost snatched it in the final minute of normal time but Musovic flung herself to her right to keep out Alex Morgan’s header.

The Sweden stopper continued her defiant display in extra time with further saves from Morgan and substitute Lynn Williams as the Stars and Stripes pushed for a winner to no avail.

Sweden somehow came through a rollercoaster shoot-out – that saw US keeper Naeher both score and save a spot-kick – and will now meet Japan in the quarter finals on Friday.

For Rapinoe it is a heart-breaking end to her illustrious career, with the midfielder having confirmed that she will step away from football at the end of the current NWSL season later this year.

USA PAY THE PRICE FOR A LACK OF CUTTING EDGE.

Vlatko Andonovski and his players had come in for heavy criticism following their disappointing performances in the group stage and many observers were anticipating a reaction.

The Stars and Stripes did dominate this last 16 tie after a slow start but were unable to find the finish to some strong approach play as they failed to net from 22 attempts overall. It was symptomatic of their World Cup as the reigning champions had managed just four goals in their first three games and had survived a last-gasp scare against Portugal to sneak through in second spot.

Sweden rode their luck both during the match and in the shoot-out, but eventually came out on top to bring an end to the USA’s dominance of the competition.

Is it the end of an era? Well, with Rapinoe set to retire and a host of other World Cup veterans probably set to consider their future, it certainly feels like it with the Stars and Stripes needing a revamp to take on the challenge of what is clearly a stronger field of opponents on the international stage.

Zecira Musovic (Sweden). The Chelsea keeper produced a series of fantastic saves as she kept out all 11 shots on target she faced to help her country force the shoot-out.

USA: Naeher 8, Fox 7, Sonnett 7, Girma 7, Dunn 7, Ertz 8, Sullivan 7, Horan 8, Rodman 7, Morgan 8, Smith 7. Subs: Williams 7, Rapinoe 6, O’Hara n/a, Mewis n/a.

SWEDEN: Musovic 9, Andersson 8, Ilestedt 8, Eriksson 8, Bjorn 7, Angeldahl 7, Rubensson 7, Kaneryd 7, Asllani 7, Rolfo 6, Blackstenius 6. Subs: Jakobsson 6, Hurtig 7, Bennison 7, Blomqvist n/a.

35’ – USA CHANCE! Lindsey Horan rises well to meet a right-wing corner but sees her bullet header clip the top of the crossbar and fly over the top.

53’ – USA CHANCE! Horan sees a sublime first-time effort from a low, right-wing cross brilliantly tipped past the post by Musovic.

89’ – USA CHANCE! Musovic produces more heroics as she springs to her right to keep out Morgan’s header.

97’ – USA CHANCE! Morgan holds off her marker and battles into the left side of the area. The forward unleashes a low strike from a narrow angle and forces a decent save out of Musovic at her near post.

101’ – USA CHANCE! Williams is set free on the right side of the area but once again Musovic denies the USA with a strong hand to block the forward’s low, angled strike.

108’ – USA CHANCE! A sensational first touch from a fizzed, low ball from the right sees Smith beat her marker but her driven shot is pushed past the near post by Musovic.

SHOOT-OUT – PENALTY MISSED! – USA 3-2 SWEDEN. Nathalie Bjorn is the first to blink as she blazes over the bar!

SHOOT-OUT – PENALTY MISSED! – USA 3-2 SWEDEN. Rapinoe steps up – but she fires over too!

SHOOT-OUT – PENALTY SAVED! – USA 3-2 SWEDEN. Blomqvist has her kick saved!

SHOOT-OUT – PENALTY MISSED! – USA 3-2 SWEDEN. Sophia Smith fires wide. That would have put USA in the last eight.

SHOOT- OUT – PENALTY SCORED! – USA 3-3 SWEDEN. Bennison smashes down the middle. All square and we are heading to sudden death.

SHOOT-OUT – PENALTY MISSED! – USA 4-4 SWEDEN. Kelley O’Hara hits the post!

SHOOT-OUT – PENALTY SCORED! – USA 4-5 SWEDEN. Lina Hurtig’s spot kick is saved, but seems to wriggle over the line. There’s a delay as it’s checked – but it is IN! Sweden win!!! The World champions are out!

• After winning their first two penalty shoot-outs at the FIFA Women’s World Cup (1999 vs China and 2011 vs Brazil), USA have lost their last two (2011 vs Japan, 2023 vs Sweden). They are the first team to lose multiple shoot-outs at the tournament.
• Since full save data is available for this competition (2011), Zecira Musovic’s 11 saves is a single-game record at the FIFA Women’s World Cup for a goalkeeper that kept a clean sheet.