Defending champions USA suffered a heartbreaking defeat within the 2023 Women’s World Cup after falling agonisingly brief within the penalties in opposition to Sweden in entrance of greater than 27000 followers in Melbourne on Saturday night. After failing to search out the again of web in 22 makes an attempt throughout regulation time and additional time, USA misplaced 4-5 within the penalty shootout that stretched to the sudden dying 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 end result 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. On the opposite hand, her counterpart Alyssa Naeher, needed to save only one try from Sweden throughout 120 minutes of play and one in the course of 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 track. 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 dying to make it 4-4 after Bennison handed Sweden the sting earlier than Kelley O’Hara spilled one more alternative for USA. The madcap shootout ultimately ended with Hurtig scoring the deciding aim. USA keeper Naeher parried the ball on the road and the end result 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 happy right now,” Sweden captain Magda Eriksson stated in a radio interview. “I don’t know how we managed to stay in this game. We didn’t play our best game, but in some way we showed we’re hard-headed, we showed heart, we never give up. We took it to extra 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 Americans, who had arrived on the match searching for an unprecedented third consecutive title.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
