A goal by Swedish star Lotta Schelin in the 24th minute held up as the USA could not find an equalizer despite a 12-4 edge in shots and 7-1 edge in corner kicks.
The star for Sweden was Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who stopped Abby Wambach’s penalty kick in the 15th minute, a one-on-one chance by Kristie Mewis in the 83rd minute and Sarah Hagen’s breakaway in the 88th minute.
The result eliminated the USA from contention for the championship game. It closes out group play Monday against Denmark.
– Sydney Leroux, who scored the U.S. goal in the 1-1 tie with Japan, was ill and missed the game.
March 7 in Albufeira
Sweden 1 USA 0. Goal: Schelin 24.
USA – Solo; Krieger, Rampone, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg (O’Hara, 46); O’Reilly, Brian (S.Mewis, 68), Lloyd, Rapinoe (K. Mewis, 68); Rodriguez (Press, 70), Wambach (Hagen, 81).
Sweden – Lindahl; Rohlin (Dembrant, 46), Fischer, Samuelsson, Rubensson; Sjogran (Folkesson, 46), Dahlkvist, Seger, Asllani (Goeransson, 49), Jakobsson (Konradsson, 66); Schelin (Lundh, 77).
Referee: Yemi Martinez (Colombia).
Att.: 2,000.