End of the Road for the USWNT Dynasty 🇺🇸

08/07/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

USWNT Suffers Devastating End to World Cup Run in Penalty Shootout Against Sweden (0-0, 5-4 PKs)

Same story, different result. For the third straight match, the U.S. Women’s National Team failed to win in regulation, and it finally caught up with them. Sunday morning’s Round of 16 battle against Sweden saw the U.S. take on a familiar rival, and it ended in the cruelest of defeats. The U.S. and Sweden played to a scoreless draw after 120 minutes despite 11 shots on target from the U.S. attack. They outshot Sweden 22-9 (11-1 on frame), but Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic stood tall with a clean sheet and the game of a lifetime to force penalty kicks.

The PK Shootout: In the penalty shootout, the U.S. shot first and both teams netted the first five attempts, giving the U.S. a 3-2 advantage, but the wheels fell off. Even after Sweden’s next attempt sailed high and U.S. goalie Alyssa Naeher made a spectacular save, three U.S. kick-takers missed clinching shots — Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelley O’Hara. Those misses allowed Sweden back in. Tied 4-4 after the USA’s seventh attempt, Naeher appeared to stop Lina Hurtig’s shot, not once, but twice. But a replay review showed the ball crossed the line by mere centimeters on the first deflection. It was a devastating finish for the U.S. — the No. 1 ranked team in FIFA and two-time defending World Cup champions — who suffered the earliest knockout from the World Cup in team history.

USA vs. Sweden Scoresheet

Possession: USA 58% | Sweden 42%

Shots: USA 22 | Sweden 9

Shots on Goal: USA 11 | Sweden 1

Corners: USA 9 | Sweden 3

Watch: Sweden Knocks Out U.S. Women’s National Team in PK Shootout (0-0, 5-4 PKs)

What’s Next for USWNT?

All four matches of the 2023 World Cup were a stunning display far from the greatness USWNT fans are accustomed to. Even though they were the better side in every match, failure to produce goals was a never-ending storyline. The USA scored just four goals in regulation over four matches, and zero regulation goals in the last 240 minutes (2.5 games). It was Megan Rapinoe’s final appearance on the international stage. Julie Ertz retired from World Cup duty after the heartbreaking loss, as well. Manager Vlatko Andonovski’s future has plenty of question marks, too. There’s little expectation he’ll remain the coach of the USWNT moving forward. All in all, the U.S. actually deserved to win this match against Sweden, but the end result is the earliest exit from the World Cup in USWNT history. Change is coming. But what a ride it’s been for a decade-long dynasty in women’s soccer.

Other World Cup Highlights

Spain def. Switzerland (5-1)

Japan def. Norway (3-1)

Netherlands def. South Africa (2-0)

Remaining Schedule (Round of 16)

England vs. Nigeria (Mon. 3:30 am ET)

Australia vs. Denmark (Mon. 6:30 am ET)

Colombia vs. Jamaica (Tues. 4:00 am ET)

France vs. Morocco (Tues. 7:00 am ET)

WaPo: The New Face of U.S. Women’s Soccer is Stunned Disbelief

SI: Dramatic Video Review of Penalty Kick Ends USWNT’s Run at World Cup

Photo: NurPhoto / Getty Images