BRASILIA, Brazil – The U.S. Women’s National Team fell to Sweden 4-3 in a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 through 120 minutes of U.S. dominated action at Mané Garrincha Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the 2016 Olympic Games.
It was a disappointing result for the USWNT, which had never before failed to reach the Olympics championship game. While the U.S. held an offensive advantage, the Americans were not that dangerous on from of Sweden’s goal.
Sweden was content to soak up U.S. pressure throughout the match and into extra time, dropping deep into its own half and looking for the counter-attack. The USA out-shot Sweden 27-6, but put just six shots on goal.
The U.S. came out tentative as they did last summer in group play at the FIFA World Cup. There they changed the game with a very aggressive high-pressure approach. Against Sweden in the second half made the Americans very dangerous. The U.S. team has played Sweden, coached by former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, four times since she became Sweden’s coach without a win, going 0-1-3.
Sweden took the lead against the run of play in the 61st minute through Stina Blackstenius‘ opportunistic counter attacking strike. Alex Morgan replied 16 minutes later, but the U.S. could not find another through regulation and overtime as Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl had a fine game.
Lisa Dahlkvist struck the winning penalty kick for Sweden on the fifth and final kick of the shootout to knock the USA out of the Olympic Games before the semifinal round for the first time in history. Morgan, who sent the match to extra time when she scored the USA’s equalizer in the 77th minute of regulation, had her shot saved in the opening round of the shootout before U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo made one save in the third round to reignite the USA’s chances. However, forward Christen Press sent her shot over the bar and Solo was unable to stop Dahlkvist, setting off a wild celebration from the Sweden team.
The U.S. will return to action in September with matches against Thailand on Sept. 15 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio and the Netherlands on Sept. 18 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Kick off times and TV information will be announced at a later date.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
SWE – Stina Blackstenius (Lisa Dahlkvist), 61st minute: Sweden won possession of the ball deep in their own half and Kosovare Asllani played a short sideways pass to Lisa Dahlkvist who’s one-touch pass split the USA center back pairing for Blackstenius to run onto. As she entered the box, Julie Johnston closed in with a sliding tackle, but Blckstenius got off the shot at the last moment and it rolled across goal into the far left side netting. USA 0, SWE 1
SWE – Stina Blackstenius (Lisa Dahlkvist), 61st minute: Sweden won possession of the ball deep in their own half and Kosovare Asllani played a short sideways pass to Lisa Dahlkvist who’s one-touch pass split the USA center back pairing for Blackstenius to run onto. As she entered the box, Julie Johnston closed in with a sliding tackle, but Blckstenius got off the shot at the last moment and it rolled across goal into the far left side netting. USA 0, SWE 1
USA – Alex Morgan, 77th minute: A clearance by Sweden was collected by the USA and worked through midfield out to Tobin Heath on the right wing. Heath sent a long, searching pass into the box that sailed beyond Crystal Dunn and ricocheted off Sweden defender Jessica Samuelsson into the center of the six-yard box and into the path of Morgan who screened off her defender and lashed a first-time left footed shot into the left side of the goal. USA 1, SWE 1
Penalty Shootout:
USA – Alex Morgan : Morgan’s shot to the left side was saved by Hedvig Lindahl. USA 0, SWE 0
SWE – Lotta Schelin : Schelin’s shot to the left side went in as Hope Solo guessed the other way.USA 0, SWE 1
USA – Lindsey Horan : Horan shot to the lower left corner to score. USA 1, SWE 1
SWE – Kosovare Asllani : Asllani sent her shot into the right side of the net as Solo jumped the other way. USA 1, SWE 2
USA – Carli Lloyd : Lloyd sent her shot into the upper left side with power, leaving Lindahl, who guessed correctly, no chance to save. USA 2, SWE 2
SWE – Linda Sembrant: Sembrant’s shot to the top left was saved by Solo who punched the ball over top of the net. USA 2, SWE 2
USA – Morgan Brian : Brian’s quick shot was unstoppable as it sailed high into the left side netting.USA 3, SWE 2
SWE – Caroline Seger : Seger shot to the right with a hard attempt that got past Solo, who guessed correctly. USA 3, SWE 3
USA – Christen Press : Press sent her shot over the top left side of the goal. USA 3, SWE 3
SWE – Lisa Dahlkvist: Dahlkvist sent her shot into the right side of the net as Solo jumped to the left. USA 3, SWE 4. FINAL
USA – Alex Morgan : Morgan’s shot to the left side was saved by Hedvig Lindahl. USA 0, SWE 0
SWE – Lotta Schelin : Schelin’s shot to the left side went in as Hope Solo guessed the other way.USA 0, SWE 1
USA – Lindsey Horan : Horan shot to the lower left corner to score. USA 1, SWE 1
SWE – Kosovare Asllani : Asllani sent her shot into the right side of the net as Solo jumped the other way. USA 1, SWE 2
USA – Carli Lloyd : Lloyd sent her shot into the upper left side with power, leaving Lindahl, who guessed correctly, no chance to save. USA 2, SWE 2
SWE – Linda Sembrant: Sembrant’s shot to the top left was saved by Solo who punched the ball over top of the net. USA 2, SWE 2
USA – Morgan Brian : Brian’s quick shot was unstoppable as it sailed high into the left side netting.USA 3, SWE 2
SWE – Caroline Seger : Seger shot to the right with a hard attempt that got past Solo, who guessed correctly. USA 3, SWE 3
USA – Christen Press : Press sent her shot over the top left side of the goal. USA 3, SWE 3
SWE – Lisa Dahlkvist: Dahlkvist sent her shot into the right side of the net as Solo jumped to the left. USA 3, SWE 4. FINAL
Next on the Schedule: The USA returns Stateside for a pair of September matches. The team will first play Thailand on Sept. 15 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, before heading down south to Atlanta for a game against the Netherlands at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 18. Kickoff and TV information will be announced at a later date.
Additional Notes:
- The USA is now 16-0-3 in 2016. The team has scored 58 goals while allowing just seven.
- The USA started in a 4-3-3 formation with the same lineup that featured in the opening match of the tournament. Alex Morgan at striker with Tobin Heath and Mallory Pugh on the wings. Carli Lloyd and Morgan Brian were the attacking midfielders with Allie Long at holding mid. Kelley O’Hara was at right back, Meghan Klingenberg at left back, while Julie Johnston and Becky Sauerbrunn patrolled the middle of the backline. Hope Solo was in goal for her fourth consecutive Olympic match. Lloyd wore the captain’s armband the USA.
- The backline of Solo, O’Hara, Johnston, Sauerbrunn and Klingenberg, which was reunited for the first time since the USA’s tournament opening win vs. New Zealand, started together for the 10th time in 2016.
- Since Pia Sundhage returned to her native land to coach Sweden, the teams have now met four times in very close games and the USA has drawn three and lost one. The teams tied 1-1 at the Algarve Cup in 2013, the USA lost 1-0 at the Algarve Cup in 2014 and then there was the 0-0 at the Women’s World Cup last summer. Tom Sermanni was the USA head coach for the first two games while Jill Ellis was the U.S. coach in the WWC.
- Morgan, who has 69 career goals, is in eighth place on the USA’s all-time goal scoring list and closing in on Cindy Parlow who has 75. Morgan has six Olympic goals, good for third on the USA’s all-time list behind Lloyd (8) and Abby Wambach (10)
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Sweden
Date: Aug. 12, 2016
Competition: 2016 Olympic Games; Quarterfinal
Venue: Mane Garrincha Stadium; Brasilia, Brazil
Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local)
Attendance: 13,892
Weather: 86 degrees, sunny
Date: Aug. 12, 2016
Competition: 2016 Olympic Games; Quarterfinal
Venue: Mane Garrincha Stadium; Brasilia, Brazil
Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local)
Attendance: 13,892
Weather: 86 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 ET1 ET2 F
USA 0 1 0 0 1
SWE 0 1 0 0 1
USA 0 1 0 0 1
SWE 0 1 0 0 1
SWE – Stina Blackstenius (Lisa Dahlkvist) 61st minute
USA – Alex Morgan 77
USA – Alex Morgan 77
Penalty Summary:
USA – Alex Morgan (save), Lindsey Horan (goal), Carli Lloyd (goal), Morgan Brian (goal), Christen Press (miss)
SWE – Lotta Schelin (goal), Kosovare Asllani (goal), Linda Sembrant (save), Caroline Seger (goal), Lisa Dahlkvist (goal)
USA – Alex Morgan (save), Lindsey Horan (goal), Carli Lloyd (goal), Morgan Brian (goal), Christen Press (miss)
SWE – Lotta Schelin (goal), Kosovare Asllani (goal), Linda Sembrant (save), Caroline Seger (goal), Lisa Dahlkvist (goal)
Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 5-Kelley O’Hara (15-Megan Rapinoe, 72 (12-Christen Press, 99)), 8-Julie Johnston, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 7-Meghan Klingenberg; 3-Allie Long (16-Crystal Dunn, 65), 14-Morgan Brian, 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.); 17-Tobin Heath, 13-Alex Morgan, 2-Mallory Pugh (9-Lindsey Horan, 114)
Subs not used: 6-Whitney Engen, 11-Ali Krieger, 18-Alyssa Naeher
Head Coach: Jill Ellis
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 5-Kelley O’Hara (15-Megan Rapinoe, 72 (12-Christen Press, 99)), 8-Julie Johnston, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 7-Meghan Klingenberg; 3-Allie Long (16-Crystal Dunn, 65), 14-Morgan Brian, 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.); 17-Tobin Heath, 13-Alex Morgan, 2-Mallory Pugh (9-Lindsey Horan, 114)
Subs not used: 6-Whitney Engen, 11-Ali Krieger, 18-Alyssa Naeher
Head Coach: Jill Ellis
SWE : 1-Hedvig Lindahl; 15-Jessica Samuelsson (4-Emma Berglund, 119), 5-Nilla Fischer, 3-Linda Sembrant, 16-Elin Rubensson (6-Magdalena Eriksson, 71); 9-Kosovare Asllani, 7-Lisa Dahlkvist, 17-Caroline Seger (capt.); 10-Sofia Jakobsson (12-Olivia Schough, 91), 13-Fridolina Rolfo (11-Stina Blackstenius, 18), 8-Lotta Schelin
Subs not used: 2-Jonna Andersson, 14-Emilia Appelqvist, 18-Hilda Carlen
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage
Subs not used: 2-Jonna Andersson, 14-Emilia Appelqvist, 18-Hilda Carlen
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage
Stats Summary: USA / SWE
Shots: 27 / 6
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 12 / 3
Fouls: 4 / 15
Offside: 5 / 5
Shots: 27 / 6
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 12 / 3
Fouls: 4 / 15
Offside: 5 / 5