Sweden 1(4), USWNT 1(3)
The United States women’s national team fell to Sweden in penalty kicks after coming back with a goal from Alex Morgan in the late stages of the game.
After Sweden took the 1-0 lead in the second half, Morgan got on the end of a deflected ball at the top of the Sweden penalty area and a one-touch finish from the veteran drew the United States level.
Headed to extra time, both teams had plenty of chances and both teams were incorrectly ruled offside late in the match. Carli Lloyd appeared to put the United States ahead with a header across the goal, but saw the assistant referee’s flag up for the infraction.
In Sweden’s next possession, a through-ball from Olivia Schough took a deflection off the USWNT before finding Lotta Schelin with acres of space in the penalty area, but the assistant referee ruled Schelin offside incorrectly.
Morgan started off the penalties, having hers saved by Hedvig Lindahl. Sweden took the lead and kept it going until the third round, when Hope Solo came up with a save in her upper-right hand corner. The teams stayed level through the next round. Christen Press, with a chance to put the pressure on Sweden, missed her penalty in the fifth round.
A glove issue on Solo’s right hand caused a small delay, but Sweden’s fifth shooter, Lisa Dahlkvist, sent her penalty in the opposite direction of Solo for the win.
It was the first time the United States failed to reach the medal round in the Olympics and first time in a major tournament the Americans failed to reach the semifinals.
Sweden will go on to play the winner of Brazil and Australia Tuesday.
Three takes
•I’m burning all my IKEA furniture.
•My malm and kivik are toast.
•The Swedish Fish: down the toilet.
Really though, the Swedes deserved the win. It’s tough to fault a team, and for that matter, beat a team, when all the cogs of the machine are working right. They played a very good counterattacking game, scored in an opportune moment to take the lead, and capitalized on their PKs. They played well on defense, keeping compact in the blocks of four and moving well among the channels.
Pia in charge
What is her deal? Obviously she’s a good coach, but the fact that Pia Sundhage has been the catalyst to the rise of the Americans — winning two Olympic gold medals and a runner-up at the 2011 World Cup — to now having the team to knock out the Americans short of the medal for the first time ever is staggering.
I’m not saying Jill Ellis is not a fantastic coach. She’s won the World Cup — in which the USWNT beat Sweden en route to winning — and had all the pieces in place to win a gold medal, but Sundhage has something that just exudes winning. A coach with a winning mentality and a winning team.
What’s next?
Well, this is tricky. I’m sure the USWNT had a victory tour ready to go, but instead, we’ll just call them friendlies. The veterans — Lloyd, Solo, and even throw in Megan Rapinoe — look strong enough to make a return to international soccer, but could they still be around for France 2019? Lloyd is 34 years old, Solo is 35, Rapinoe is 31, so by the time France rolls around, age could become a real factor for these women. We’ll look to the younger players to appear, especially if Lloyd retires.
Maybe it’s Lindsey Horan filling in that No.10 role, Morgan Brian could fit the part, Christen Press already has experience there, so there are options going forward for this team. Yes, it would have been nice to see these women win gold, especially to see some of the team tie for the most medals in women’s soccer in Olympic history, but there will be plenty of continued noise from the Americans leading up to the next Women’s World Cup.
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