Sweden’s ahead #08 Lina Hurtig (C) and teammates have fun their win following a penalty kick shootout over two-time defending champion U.S. on the Women’s World Cup. It was the U.S.’s earliest exit from the match.

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Sweden’s ahead #08 Lina Hurtig (C) and teammates have fun their win following a penalty kick shootout over two-time defending champion U.S. on the Women’s World Cup. It was the U.S.’s earliest exit from the match.

William West/AFP through Getty Images

It was a merciless exit after a tricky match for the United States Women’s National Team. And it got here by the narrowest of margins. An inch. Maybe much less.

After 90-minutes of regulation and a half-hour of additional time between the top-ranked U.S. and third-ranked Sweden, it got here all the way down to a penalty kick shootout. And it was the ultimate penalty shot – by Sweden that was virtually stopped by U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher. The ball barely crossed the road.

And that was it. The four-time champion U.S. is heading dwelling – the staff’s earliest-ever exit from the Women’s World Cup.

USA ahead Trinity Rodman created probability after probability as she returned to the beginning lineup towards Sweden in a spherical of 16 match on the Women’s World Cup on August 06, 2023.

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USA ahead Trinity Rodman created probability after probability as she returned to the beginning lineup towards Sweden in a spherical of 16 match on the Women’s World Cup on August 06, 2023.

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It was the seventh time these two squads confronted one another on the WWC – essentially the most in match historical past. Though that is their first-ever matchup in a knockout spherical. Going in, the U.S. had a 4W-1D-1L report.

On a cold 52-degree night time in Melbourne, Australia, these two performed just like the heavyweights they’re in ladies’s worldwide soccer. Against number-three Sweden, the top-ranked U.S. had extra vitality, precision and self-discipline than in earlier matches at this Women’s World Cup.

Both groups had their possibilities early on

U.S. ahead Trinity Rodman navigated by way of the Sweden protection and threaded a robust shot within the 18^th minute, and one other within the 27^th minute. Off a U.S. nook kick within the 33^rd, captain Lindsey Horan’s header skipped off the crossbar. In the primary half, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher punched away two harmful Swedish nook kicks.

It was simply the perfect first half for the U.S. at this match – because the Americans dissected Sweden’s protection to create one scoring probability after one other. But at halftime it was 0-0. Still, this was the U.S. staff that had been absent within the first three matches.

The U.S. started the second half the way it ended the primary. Controlling play and crafting offensive alternatives. Horan powered a strike within the 53^rd minute that Swedish keeper Zećira Mušović someway, in some way managed to deflect out of the objective.

In the 66^th minute, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski made his first substitution changing Trinity Rodman (who had been sick within the leadup to this sport) for the speedy Lynn Williams. Emily Sonnett (who began instead of Rose Lavelle due to her yellow card accumulation) sparkled together with her defensive stops and had a shot of her personal within the 76^th minute. Alex Morgan headed a zinger within the 89^th minute that the Swedish keeper managed to swat away.

USA ahead Alex Morgan (C) heads the ball subsequent to Sweden’s defender Amanda Ilestedt within the 89th minute of their Women’s World Cup matchup on August 6, 2023.

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USA ahead Alex Morgan (C) heads the ball subsequent to Sweden’s defender Amanda Ilestedt within the 89th minute of their Women’s World Cup matchup on August 6, 2023.

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90 minutes (and an additional half-hour) wouldn’t be sufficient

So regardless of the U.S. dominance throughout regulation, neither aspect scored — which compelled a half-hour of additional time. Looking for a spark, the U.S. subbed Alex Morgan out of the sport within the 99^th minute, changing her with Megan Rapinoe. Both sides had possibilities in further time – however they did not rating.

So it led to essentially the most irritating option to finish a soccer sport: penalty kicks.

The U.S. had been right here earlier than on the Women’s World Cup – successful three earlier instances in a shootout. But by no means has the squad confronted a keeper like Sweden’s Zećira Mušović who shined with save after save after save to cease the vaunted U.S. offense.

Penalty kick shootout

The U.S. would kick first – Andi Sullivan calmly struck the ball low and to the left simply out of Mušović’s attain. Sweden answered to make it 1-1. U.S. captain Lindsey Horan powered her kick in to make it 2-1. Sweden evened it to 2-2.

And that is when the drama actually started. Kristie Mewis subbed into the sport within the closing minute of additional time, making her Women’s World Cup debut. Her first contact got here on the penalty shot — which she made.

Sweden’s subsequent shot sailed over the crossbar. But then so did the subsequent U.S. kick after which one other. U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher managed a save after which took a penalty shot of her personal – conserving the U.S. in it.

Kelly O’Hara, one other final minute sub in further time, noticed her kick bounce off the publish. It would come all the way down to Lina Hurtig. Her shot – swatted by Naeher who thought she’d saved it – in some way handed simply throughout the road.

After an agonizing video evaluate to verify the ball did certainly sneak throughout the objective line by a whisker, that was it.

The closing rating was 0-0 (Sweden 5-4 on PKs). Sweden’s staff celebrated as if it had received the match and the U.S. regarded shocked.

“I know we were criticized for the way we played, at different moments [in this tournament],” U.S. Coach Andonovski mentioned in a Fox Sports post-game interview. “I think we came out today and showed what we’re all about. The grit, the resilience, the fight, the bravery. Unfortunately, soccer can be cruel sometimes.”

Sweden will tackle Japan within the quarterfinals. The U.S., the primary staff on the planet and two-time defending Women’s World Cup champions, heads dwelling.