(Photo credit score: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports)
Lina Hurtig scored within the seventh spherical of penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes to carry Sweden previous the United States in a knockout spherical match on the Women’s World Cup on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.
In the highest of the seventh spherical, Kelly O’Hara chipped the ball off the suitable submit and Hurtig then scored regardless of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher getting a contact on the ball. The play was reviewed to ensure the ball crossed the road, and it did by lower than an inch.
Third-ranked Sweden, which gained the penalties 5-4, performs Japan within the quarterfinal on Friday in Auckland, New Zealand.
The United States, which was ranked No. 1 on the planet, had reached the semifinals within the earlier eight World Cups, by no means ending decrease than third place. The Americans have been bidding for an unprecedented third straight title, a feat no males’s or girls’s staff has achieved earlier than.
The participant of the match was Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who made 11 saves on the 22 American pictures. Sweden had 9 pictures, just one heading in the right direction.
Musovic saved the match scoreless in regulation with two nice second-half saves, together with a diving cease to her proper on an Alex Morgan header within the 89th minute.
In the 53rd minute, Musovic made a reactionary save together with her left hand to disclaim Lindsey Horan’s shot that was focused for the decrease proper nook.
Musovic made stops on Morgan and Lynn Williams within the first 10 minutes of additional time.
The lone save for Naeher was within the eighty fifth minute on a 10-yard shot by Sofia Jakobsson.
The U.S. was dominant in all places however the scoreboard within the first half. The Americans had 62 p.c of possession (82 p.c the ultimate quarter-hour) which led to 5 pictures, two heading in the right direction, in comparison with one off-target attempt for Sweden.
Trinity Rodman was dynamic on the suitable facet, forcing saves by Musovic within the 18th and twenty seventh minutes however the most effective probability for both staff got here within the thirty fourth when Horan’s header from an Andi Sullivan nook kick skimmed the highest of the bar.
— Field Level Media