The United States women’s national team suffered an incredible and dramatic Women’s World Cup exit on Sunday, crashing out in the last 16 after a penalty shootout defeat to Sweden. The team has always at least made the semi-finals in this competition, making this elimination another historic and unwanted record that the reigning champion has collected in a dismal experience in Australia and New Zealand.
Sweden struggled to get a foothold in the game and so it was the U.S. who had the majority of chances throughout the match, with Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan both denied in particularly impressive fashion by Zecira Musovic, who was absolutely incredible.
She went into the shootout with plenty of confidence, then, but she didn’t need to make a save as Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelley O’Hara all failed to hit the target with their penalties. It was Lina Hurtig who won it for the Swedes, Alyssa Naeher appearing to save her effort only for goal-line technology to confirm it as a goal by the finest of margins.
