Sweden, ranked third, dealt a crushing blow to the United States’ hopes of retaining their FIFA Women’s World Cup title today.
The intense match resulted in a tense penalty shootout after both teams remained deadlocked in a goalless draw during extra time.
Heartbreak struck the US as they missed three crucial penalties, including one from retiring superstar Megan Rapinoe.
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Sweden’s hero of the moment, substitute Lina Hurtig, secured a thrilling 5-4 victory in the seventh round of penalties, which was confirmed by VAR.
Reflecting on the match, US coach Vlatko Andonovski expressed his team’s disappointment, saying, “Today, we showcased our true spirit, but soccer can be unforgiving at times.”
Sweden’s remarkable triumph sets the stage for an exciting quarterfinal showdown against former champions Japan.
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Meanwhile, the Netherlands confidently booked their spot in the quarterfinals by defeating underdogs South Africa 2-0 in front of an enthusiastic 40,000-strong crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Jill Roord provided the Netherlands with an early lead through a well-executed header, while Lineth Beerensteyn sealed their victory in the 68th minute following a costly error from South Africa’s goalkeeper, Kaylin Swart.
Despite South Africa’s spirited performance, they couldn’t capitalize on their moments of dominance, with Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar making exceptional saves, including thwarting their talismanic stand-in captain, Thembi Kgatlana.
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Looking forward to the round of 16 matches on August 7th, anticipation builds as European champions England are set to take on Nigeria, while co-hosts Australia will face Denmark in what promises to be a captivating showdown.
