USA dumped out of Women’s World Cup as Sweden win penalty shootout on VAR check

The USWNT were sent crashing out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in the last 16 as Sweden defeated the defending champions in a dramatic penalty shootout. Sweden will face Japan in the quarterfinals while the United States lost their first knockout contest at the World Cup since 2011.

Sweden entered the contest in good spirits, boasting a 100 percent record with three wins from three in the group stage. The European nation also beat the United States at the Olympics, and so they were brimming with confidence as they took to the field in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, the USWNT only won one of three group stage games with successive draws. It has been a nervy tournament for the reigning back-to-back world champions, but their fans hoped something would click against Sweden.

In the latest chapter of the most played fixture in Women’s World Cup history, the USWNT got off to a better start yet the first half resembled a heavyweight boxing bout as the teams sized one another up. Trinity Rodman, who missed the draw with Portugal last time out as fans clamoured for her return, proved to be the most energetic spark for the US.

Rodman had a couple of efforts beaten away by Zecira Musovic, while captain Lindsey Horan perhaps came closest to breaking the deadlock with a header from a corner. Horan impressively rose to meet the cross and thump her effort off the cross bar, leaving the 29-year-old aghast.

With 2011 World Cup winners Japan awaiting in the quarterfinals, the USWNT opened the second half carrying the momentum they built late in the first half. Once again, Horan thought she had opened the scoring but her strike – destined for the bottom corner – was spectacularly saved by a diving Musovic.

The USWNT thought they had booked their ticket to the last eight when Alex Morgan pkanted a header goalbound with minutes remaining, only for Musovic to sensatioanlly deny the iconic forward. The Swedish goalkeeper proved to be the star of the game as she ensured the contest became the first game of the World Cup to go to extra time.

The additional period simply gave Musovic more time to showcase her skills as he expertly denied Morgan from a tight angle. The striker was then withdrawn in favor of USWNT icon Megan Rapinoe, who immediately began to influence proceedings – but she couldn’t stop it from going to penalties.