The United States performed its greatest sport of this Women's World Cup and it is wasn't adequate to cease the two-time reigning champions from being eradicated from the match.

The Americans' bid to win an unprecedented third consecutive title ended on August 6 on penalty kicks when Lina Hurtig transformed and Sweden knocked the United States out of the World Cup 5-4 after a scoreless draw.

It is the earliest exit in match historical past for the United States, four-time winners of the World Cup.

“Just devastated. It feels like a bad dream,” stated captain Alex Morgan. “The team put everything out there tonight, I feel like we dominated, but it doesn't matter. We're going home and it's the highs and lows of the sport of soccer. So, yeah, it doesn't feel great.”

U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher fruitlessly argued she had saved Hurtig's try, nevertheless it was dominated over the road. The stadium performed Abba's “Dancing Queen” within the stadium because the Swedes celebrated.

United States’ gamers react after shedding their Women’s World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match in opposition to Sweden in Melbourne on August 6, 2023.| Photo Credit:AP

“We just lost the World Cup by a millimeter. That's tough,” stated Naeher, who efficiently transformed her personal penalty kick. “I am proud of the fight of the team. We knew we hadn't done our best in the group stage and we wanted a complete team performance and the team came out and played great.”

She praised Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who had 11 saves to eradicate the United States within the Round of 16 for the primary time in workforce historical past. The American's worst end had been third place, thrice.

“We didn’t put anything in the back of the net,” sobbed Julie Ertz after the loss. “The penalties were tough. It’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever. It’s just tough. It’s an emotional time. It obviously sucks. Penalties are the worst.”

The loss was considerably anticipated based mostly on the Americans' listless play by means of three group stage matches. But they performed their greatest sport of this World Cup in opposition to Sweden, solely to have it determined by penalties.

Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelly O’Hara all missed penalty kicks that might have given the United States the win.

Sweden have fun after defeating the United States in a penalty shootout of their Women’s World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, on August 6, 2023.| Photo Credit:AP

“I am proud of the women on the field," said U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski. “I know we were criticized for the way we played, and for different moments in the group stage. I think we came out today and showed the grit, the resilience, the fight. The bravery showed we did everything we could to win the game. And, unfortunately, soccer can be cruel sometimes.”

It was the primary match at this World Cup to go to additional time.

It was the was the fourth time the Americans went to additional time on the World Cup. All three earlier matches went to penalties, together with the 2011 closing gained by Japan. The U.S. gained on penalties in a 2011 quarterfinal match in opposition to Brazil, and within the 1999 closing on the closing on the Rose Bowl in opposition to China.

Sweden knocked the United States out of the 2016 Olympics within the quarterfinals on penalties.

Sweden goes on to the quarterfinals to play Japan, the 2011 World Cup winner, which defeated Norway 3-1 on Saturday evening.

Sweden has by no means gained a serious worldwide match, both the World Cup or the Olympics. The closest the workforce has come is World Cup runner-up in 2003. They completed in third within the 1999, 2011 and 2019 editions, and gained silver medals within the final two Olympics.

The outcome ended the worldwide profession of Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner of the 2019 match who's retiring after the World Cup. She had taken on a smaller position for the Americans in her closing match and was a substitute within the United States’ first and third video games of group play, and didn’t get off the bench within the center match.

She got here on in additional time in opposition to Sweden and in her closing sport and couple of minutes of motion, she failed to manage a ball performed in deep, whiffed on a rebound, hit the facet of the online with a nook after which missed the penalty that may have gained the sport for the United States.

The Americans struggled by means of group play with simply 4 objectives in three matches. They have been almost eradicated final Tuesday by first-timers Portugal, however eked out a 0-0 draw to fall to second of their group for simply the second time at a World Cup.

The Americans appeared much better in opposition to Sweden, dominating possession and outshooting the Swedes 5-1 within the first half alone. Lindsey Horan’s first-half header hit the crossbar and a second-half blast was saved by goalkeeper Musovic, who had six saves in regulation.

Sweden gained all three of their group video games, together with a 5-0 rout of Italy in its closing group match. Coach Peter Gerhardsson made 9 lineup adjustments for the match, resting his starters in anticipation of the United States.

It was tense from the opening whistle.

Naeher punched the ball away from a crowded purpose on an early Sweden nook kick. Three of the Swedes’ objectives in opposition to Italy got here on set items.

Trinity Rodman’s shot from distance within the 18th minute was simply caught by Musovic, who stopped one other probability by Rodman within the twenty seventh.

Horan’s header off Andi Sullivan’s nook within the thirty fourth hit the crossbar and ignored the purpose. Horan was on track within the 53rd minute however Musovic dove to push it vast. Horan crouched to the sector in frustration whereas Musovic was swarmed by her teammates.

The United States was with out Rose Lavelle, who picked up her second yellow card of the match within the group stage finale in opposition to Portugal and has to sit down out in opposition to Sweden.

In Lavelle’s absence, Andonovski began Emily Sonnett, who was making her first begin for the workforce since 2022. The addition of Sonnett allowed Horan to maneuver up larger within the midfield.

Sweden pressed within the closing 10 minutes of regulation. Sofia Jakobsson, who got here in as an alternative within the 81st minute, almost scored within the eighty fifth however Naeher managed to catch it for her first save of the match.