Defending champions USA suffered a heartbreaking defeat within the 2023 Girls’s World Cup after falling agonisingly quick within the penalties in opposition to Sweden in entrance of greater than 27000 followers in Melbourne on Saturday night. After failing to seek out the again of web in 22 makes an attempt throughout regulation time and further time, USA misplaced 4-5 within the penalty shootout that stretched to the sudden loss of life spherical earlier than Sweden rode their luck in VAR drama for the deciding spot kick because the four-time winners incurred their first ever World Cup exit at this stage of the competitors.
Vlatko Andonovski’s facet had been immensely criticised en path to their run to the final 16 following their performances in opposition to the Netherlands and Portugal, however in opposition to Sweden within the knockout match, USA had put their finest effort ahead regardless of not discovering the again of the web. Sweden, whose finest consequence was ending because the runners-up in 2003, have goalkeeper Zecira Musovic to thank for saving 11 makes an attempt heading in the right direction from USA, and sarcastically none in penalties. Then again, her counterpart Alyssa Naeher, needed to save only one try from Sweden throughout 120 minutes of play and one throughout the penalties earlier than committing an error on the deciding shot from Lina Hurtig.
After Kristie Mewis put USA 3-2 forward within the penalty shootout, Sweden’s Nathalie Björn despatched it over the bar. Megan Rapinoe, who was subbed in for Alex Morgan simply earlier than the penalties, had the possibility to consolidate USA’s place, however despatched it off beam. Naeher then registered her solely save within the tie-breaker, denying Blomqvist, however teammate Sophia Smith didn’t do justice to her efforts.
Naeher later stepped up within the sudden loss of life to make it 4-4 after Bennison handed Sweden the sting earlier than Kelley O’Hara spilled yet one more alternative for USA. The madcap shootout finally ended with Hurtig scoring the deciding objective. USA keeper Naeher parried the ball on the road and the consequence wanted to be confirmed by VAR with Sweden surviving solely by a millimetre.
Naeher was left shellshocked, her teammates coated their faces in sheer disappointment as Hurtig and Sweden broke into jubilant celebrations.
“We’re so glad proper now,” Sweden captain Magda Eriksson mentioned in a radio interview. “I do not understand how we managed to remain on this recreation. We did not play our greatest recreation, however in a roundabout way we confirmed we’re hard-headed, we confirmed coronary heart, we by no means quit. We took it to additional time, we took it to penalties and we managed to win.”
It was the primary exit earlier than the semi-finals in 9 World Cups for the Individuals, who had arrived on the match on the lookout for an unprecedented third consecutive title.
