USWNT crash out the World Cup on penalties AS IT HAPPENED: Goal line technology sensationally needed to confirm the decisive spot kick had gone over the line in heartbreaking exit from the tournament
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog as Sweden take on USA in their Round of 16 clash at the Women’s World Cup.
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Be sure to check out our match report below as the holders crash out of the tournament, but Sweden progress.
That is such a cruel way for the USWNT to go out after their best performance of the tournament.
They dominated the clash, but were thwarted by the inspired form of Musovic, although they were perhaps guilty of being a bit wasteful in the final third.
Vlatko Andonovski’s side were also in charge of the penalty shootout before Rapinoe’s miss and even Smith had a chance to put them through.
The replay of Hurtig’s winner won’t help, with the ball only having just crossed the line.
However, Sweden deserve credit for their resilience when under pressure and Musovic’s performance was one of the best from a keeper at a World Cup.
OH MY GOSH! Hurtig shoots, Naeher saves it, but it bounces up in the air and the US keeper claws it out.
There’s a delay. Has it crossed the line? And VAR concludes it has and the holders are out.
What drama! Sweden are elated and the US are gutted. What a cruel way to go. Agony for the Americans!
Hits the post! OH NO!
The keeper goes the wrong way but it clips the outside of the post. Hurtig to win it and knock out the holders…
WHAT A PENALTY! Left footed, into the top right corner. You don’t save those!
Kelly O’Hara up now.
Nerves of steel from the goalkeeper!
Now can she send the US through by saving this effort from Eriksson?
Great penalty. She just slams it down the middle.
Now to sudden death and the pressure is heavily back on the US>
Naeher is lining up next!
OH MY GOSH! What’s happened? To win it and Sophia Smith hits it wide and over the bar. That’s four penalties missed in a row and Sweden have a way back in.
I can’t believe that!!! Her teammates thought it was in too.
What a save from Naeher. She had barely anything to do in the game but she dives to her left and tips it around the post.
Smith to win it…
OH NO! The USWNT legend now misses. High and wide – you wouldn’t have expected that from the two-time World Cup winner.
OH NO! Bjorn fires over the bar. She didn’t look comfortable.
Calm as you like. Mewis didn’t even touch the ball after coming on right at the end of extra time.
But it’s another superb pen into the top corner.
Rubensson continues the streak as she makes no mistake from the spot!
Goal! Musovic goes the right way but Horan’s spot kick nestles in the corner.
Another great pen. Smashed left footed into the far corner.
Great pen. Smashed into the bottom corner
A heroic effort from Sweden and mainly Musovic to force the game all the way to penalties.
The USWNT have dominated the 120 minutes and may rue missing several guilt-edged chances but the Swedish keeper was in inspired form.
It’s all down to spot kicks…
A tactical foul from Ertz as Blomqvist was running in behind.
It’s a decision delivery but Sonnett – who has been brilliant today – heads it away.
A double change for the US as the experience of O’Hara and Mewis are on for Fox and Sonnett.
An eye penalties there. One minute added time
Various players on both sides are beginning to go down with cramp such has been the tension of this game.
Andersson is the latest having been tested by Rodman and then Williams down the US’ right hand side.
The Americans are continuing to have all the play and Sweden are clinging on, but they’re battling hard and deserve credit for doing so.
Can the US create one more big chance? They’ve had 21 efforts on goal and 11 on target!
Can they force this deserve goal?
The play is all the US as Sweden can barely string a pass together. Williams scuffs a shot straight at Musovic on the turn as they continue to be frustrated.
Meanwhile, Blackstenius is replaced by Blomqvist.
They just can’t find a way past Musovic!!
Williams plays in Smith who takes a lovely touch. She fires at goal but a strong left hand from Musovic forces a corner and her side are still in this tie.
The resulting corner causes a scuffed clearance from Eriksson but Musovic is there to collect the loose ball.
Still awaiting a breakthrough as both sides see out the final five minutes of the half.
15 more and then we’re onto penalties…
Another live blog entry, another one about a great save from Musovic!
Smith picks the ball up and feeds it out to Williams. The winger has impressed since she came on midway through the second half.
She drives towards goal and fires on target but Musovic is there again as she parries it away with her right hand.
This really feels like it could be her night. The US force two corners but they are dealt with by an increasingly confident Swedish side.
The USWNT legend gets a hug from her boss Vlatko Andonovski and comes on for Alex Morgan.
The two-time World Cup winner gets a huge cheer from the Melbourne crowd.
Has she got one last bit of World Cup magic in her at the age of 38?
She’s gone to the left wing and Smith has tucked inside to play in the central striker role.
Morgan – who was becoming increasingly involved towards the end of normal time – does well to hold of Bjorn from a ball over the top.
She fires at goal with her left foot but Musovic is there yet again – she is having some game!
The first five minutes of extra time had been relatively quiet before that, with the game taking a bit of a full.
Angeldal is also limping off and will be replaced by Bennison.
Well, that was a chaotic final 10 minutes of the game but the sides still can’t be separated and we’re into extra time.
In truth, the USA have dominated much of the clash and only Musovic’s superb saves have kept Sweden in the World Cup.
The stats tell most of the story with 13 shots from the US to Sweden’s six, although the former only have an xG of 0.79 – they have perhaps been guilty of being wasteful with their final balls.
We’ll have 30 minutes more to play in Melbourne…
AGAIN! Musovic is having the game of her life.
Great play from the US. Williams floats in a lovely cross and Morgan peels off and heads at goal.
It’s heading into the corner but Musovic is there again with another stunning save to keep her side in the World Cup.
Into two minutes of added time.
Some more pressure from Sweden as they win a corner.
A couple of dangerous deliveries into the box are well-dealt with by Naeher again, before Angeldal scuffs her shot over.
They’ve been a lot more lively in the last 10 minutes since the substitutes though.
Out of nowhere Sweden get into a good position.
Jakobsson cuts inside Girma and fires at Naeher who does well to get the ball under control at the second attempt.
That’s their first shot on target of the game.
Minutes before, Morgan had broken through but fired her effort into the side netting, although she was offside anyway.
Aslanni and Kaneryd are being replaced by Jakobsson and Hurtig in Sweden’s first substitutes of the game.
The captain’s armband has gone to Eriksson. It will be interesting to see how they shape up with the changes.
It feels as if the US are running out of ideas in the past 10 minutes.
Extra time not too far away!
Williams works hard down the right and Fox then manages to find Sonnett at the edge of the box.
The midfielder has been so calm and authoritative in everything she has done today, but fires high and wide.
Just over 10 minutes to go…
The US continue to attack and put Sweden under pressure but they still can’t find the breakthrough.
Sweden haven’t really offered anything at all but the most important thing is they’re still in this game.
Will the US call for 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe?
Rodman is replaced by Williams in the first sub for the US.
The winger was impressive today, but had been slightly quieter in the second half.
Williams will bring plenty of experience.
Again! The ball drops to Smith at the back post and she has acres of space.
But it’s a poor touch and Musovic is there again and smothers the ball.
It looks like it would’ve been brought back for offside as Rodman – who got the flick on – was offside. But that takes nothing away from the outstanding goalkeeping on display.
More good play as Morgan chests it off to Horan.
The attacking midfielder is becoming more and more influential in this game, but she fires her effort wide.
The USWNT need to make this pressure count.
The Swedish keeper to the rescue again with an absolutely superb stop.
The US have a spell of pressure and Fox whips a ball across the box. Horan arrives late and fires at goal first time but Musovic tips it around the post with her left hand.
Brilliant goalkeeping and they’re still level.
Sweden have looked to press a bit higher this half but are still hanging on in there.
Aslanni receives a yellow card for a bad tackle on Ertz.
The midfielder was late on the US defender as she cleared the ball and caught her with her follow through.
Sweden get us started and there’s been no changes for either side.
They had just three touches in the USA’s penalty area in the first half so have got plenty of improving to do in attack.
A big 45 minutes ahead…
And that’s that for the first period as the sides head in level.
After a slow start to the game, the US have really begun to dominate in what has probably been their best half of the tournament so far.
Musovic in the Sweden net has been forced into two great saves, while Horan also crashed the bar with a header from a corner.
They will be disappointed not to have made their pressure count though and the Scandinavian side will hope to regain some control in the second half and try and assert their prowess at set pieces.
It’s all to play for…
Brilliant and brave work from Musovic again.
The ball drops and Morgan is quick to react but Musovic is also fast and just gets a touch on the ball in front of her.
The Chelsea keeper is really keeping her nation in the game – Sweden have barely had the ball in the past 15 minutes and will be desperate to get through to half-time.
Smith picks up the ball in the centre of the park and has plenty of options.
She feeds Rodman out on the right, who tries to find Morgan first time.
Rubensson gets a touch on the ball but it so nearly deflects into her own goal with Musovic stranded.
Some neat play follows from the resulting corner but Sweden just about deal with it – the US are moving the ball much quicker today.
The US win a corner and it is floated in perfectly by Rodman.
Horan meets it and fires a bullet header towards goal. It looks like Musovic has pulled off a world class save but replays showed it hit the bar.
The US are really starting to assert their dominance now – this has been much better from them.
Horan, Rodman and Smith are looking dangerous behind Morgan.
Just over 10 minutes to go until half time.
That’s good again from the US who have still been a little too tentative so far.
Angeldal misplaces a pass and Rodman – who has been their brightest spark – picks it up and drives towards goal.
Andersson lets her run and she fires at goal but Musovic pulls off a diving stop.
The USWNT need to build on this pressure as Rodman then fires over with her left foot after a neat one-two with Horan.
Meanwhile, supporters inside the stadium are singing along to ABBA as they make the most of their experience.
One of Sweden’s greatest strengths in this tournament so far has been their set pieces.
Another dangerous corner is whipped in right underneath the crossbar but Naeher does well to punch away under pressure.
She is fouled in the process but Sweden now have another free kick on the right hand side.
Sullivan does well to clear away before Rodman is clattered by Eriksson to ease the pressure.
That’s better!
Smith blocks a clearance and it perfectly lands at the feet of Rodman about 30 yards out.
She drives towards goal and fires a fierce effort at goal but Musovic parries it away and Sweden clear.
There’s so much quality on display on either side in Melbourne that it is sure to be a hard-fought game.
Sweden are content to let the US have the ball and sit back, but as of yet the Americans are also happy to keep it and haven’t yet created any major chances.
Meanwhile, when they get the opportunity Sweden are keen to bomb forward at pace and put crosses in, but are yet to have anything of note so far, although Naeher dealt well with a dangerous corner.
Overall, it’s been a low-key start to the game.
Good play from the US.
Morgan feeds in Horan who lays it back to Smith but Eriksson and Ilestedt just about did enough.
The ball came back out to Sullivan but she fires wide from the edge of the box.
For a team that is under heavy pressure coming into this game, that’s a promising start.
Both teams have come out with plenty of intensity here.
A nice run from Alex Morgan had the US in a dangerous position but she was ushered out well by the Swedish defence.
It looks like the Scandinavian side are playing with two sitting midfielders which will no doubt give them a bit of extra cover.
Julie Ertz is at centre back for the Americans.
The US get us underway and what an atmosphere it is inside the stadium.
We’re hopefully in for an absolute cracker…
It’s a packed out crowd in Melbourne and the national anthems are being sung.
We’re just minutes away from kick off and what a big game this is between two of the favourites for the tournament.
A reminder we will have extra time and penalties if required…
Just a reminder that this tie between the world No 1 and No 3 ranked sides is on the other side of the draw to England.
Whoever wins today will play Japan – who beat Norway 3-1 yesterday – before the winner of that will take on Spain or the Netherlands.
On paper, England are on the supposed ‘easier’ side of the draw, but we all know it’s never quite as straightforward as that – Sarina Wiegman’s side face Nigeria at 8:30AM tomorrow UK time.
In comparison to the US, Sweden are looking in fine form ahead of this last-16 tie.
Peter Gerhardsoon’s side are ranked No 3 in the world and won their three group games 5-0, 2-0 and 2-1.
We’re in for an enthralling clash.
BY KATHRYN BATTE
When the final whistle blew to confirm the United States’ 0-0 draw with Portugal on Tuesday and their place in the World Cup knockouts, there was little celebration.
The camera panned to veteran Julie Ertz, whose expression was downbeat and frustrated. If you had not known the result, you would have assumed the US had lost.
Three of the top eight-ranked nations are now out of this tournament and if the US do not up their game, they could soon be joining them. It all adds up to good news for England, who now have what many would consider to be an easier route to the final than they would have anticipated.
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Three of the eight last-16 ties have been played so far at the Women’s World Cup and Spain, Japan and the Netherlands have all booked quarter-finals spots so far.
SATURDAY
Switzerland 1 Spain 5
Japan 3 Norway 1
SUNDAY
Netherlands 2 South Africa 0
Sweden vs United States
MONDAY
England vs Nigeria
Australia vs Denmark
TUESDAY
Colombia vs Jamaica
France vs Morocco
Sweden XI: Musovic; Andersson, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Bjorn; Angeldahl, Rubensson; Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius
Substitutes: Falk, Enblom, Sembrant, Lennartsson, Sandberg, Janogy, Hurtig, Jakobsson, Blomqvist, Seger, Bennison, Schough
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvmFAY2rlhQ/
A post shared by Swedish Women's National team (@swewnt)
A few changes to the US line-up for this one with Emily Sonnett coming in to make her first World Cup start and Trinity Rodman also returning to the starting line-up.
USA XI: Naeher; Fox, Sonnett, Girma, Dunn; Ertz, Sullivan, Horan; Rodman, Morgan, Smith
Substitutes: Murphy, Kingsbury, Sanchez, Huerta, O’Hara, Williams, Thompson, DeMelo, Cook, Rapinoe, Mewis
The Round of 16 XI 🇺🇸#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/ImXEf9FcAJ
It has been far from the most convincing campaign so far for the USWNT. They didn’t top their group and were the width of the post from crashing out after the group stage in what would have been a seismic shock.
But as they prepare to take on Sweden in Melbourne, they can fall back upon their vast experience of producing the goods when it matters in knockout tournament football.
Not that today’s last-16 assignment will be straightforward. Sweden won all three of their group matches and are certain to provide the US with a formidable test.
Welcome along to our live coverage.
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