The United States women’s soccer team lost to Sweden in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics in the penalty shootout on Friday. The Americans are eliminated and are going home the loser.
The U.S. women soccer team which won last year’s Women’s World Cup, had been in the five previous Olympic final and won four of those five title games and three straight gold medals in the gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012. Unfortunately for them the Swedish team which was coached by former U.S. team manager Pia Sundhage knows how to deal with the Americans.
The U.S. were clearly the favorites since Sweden can only come up with two goals in their three group stage goals and one of those come from a 5-1 lost against hosts Brazil. But the Swedes gave an impeccable defense that left the Americans clueless.
Sweden took a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute using a passing strategy that gave room for Stina Blackstenius for a goal. In the 77th minute the United States responded with a goal, a cross into the penalty area by Tobin Heath skimmed off Crystal Dunn and landed at the feet of Alex Morgan, who fired the ball into the net with her left foot to tie the score at 1-1.
In the penalties, the U.S. cracked first, and never really recovered. Morgan first shot in the shootout was blocked by the Swedish goalkeeper, Hedvig Lindahl. After four consecutive successful kicks, Solo had a great save, diving high and to her right to keep out Linda Sembrant and even things up. Christen Press took the Americans’ fifth shot and sent it over the net. Solo tried to mess up the concentration of Swedish shooter, Lisa Dahlkvist by calling to the bench for a change of gloves, but that didn’t work. Dahlkvist was calm and decisive and she delivers the shot that eliminated the Americans.
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| Hope Solo Tweeting |
Full Hope Solo quote on Sweden after US was eliminated from the Olympics today. pic.twitter.com/UZVCAeur6m— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 12, 2016
