Reigning world champions United States of America have crashed out of the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup after losing on penalties to Sweden.
In the round of 16 fixture on Sunday, Sweden emerged winners 5-4 on penalty shootout after 120 minutes of football ended goalless
This is the earliest the United States have exited from a FIFA women’s World Cup.
The four-time world champions are the latest big name that have crashed out of the tournament.
While Brazil, two-time winners Germany and Olympic champions Canada exited at the group stage, 1995 champions Norway lost 3-1 to Japan in the last 16 on Saturday.
The Americans will feel disappointed not coming out tops despite dominating most part of the game.
They had 11 shots on target to Sweden’s one, shots off target was seven to USA, Sweden had non.
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In terms of possession USA bossed it 60 per cent over Sweden’s 40 per cent, had nine corner kicks compared to Sweden with three.
Unlike Sweden mustering just one counter attacks, the Americans had four.
Also, Sweden goalkeeper made 11 saves while USA goalkeeper made only one save.
Earlier on Sunday Netherlands defeated African champions South Africa 2-0 to progress into the quarter-finals.
13 Comments
e don red
Goal line technology held nations in suspense for a couple of seconds. Again, statistics wise, Sweden were empty. The second high profile match after Japan Spain, where ball possession profiteth little. Hopefully, super falcons can do so tomorrow. USA however didn’t deserve to lose, but what is the beautiful game about if not shocks from time to time?
Another tale of missed chances proving costly in the end. The Swedish goalie kept the Americans out. Surprised me that quite a few penalty kicks were missed by both teams. The winning penalty though…..woooow. What drama! Ball crossed the line by maybe an inch? But yeah, the whole ball did cross the line.
Guys,
Imagine this SAME Goal-Line VAR technology was used in THAT Victor Ikpeba penalty (against Cameroon) @ Gha/Nig ’00…..hmmmmmmmmm…..Would the story have changed today? Would we be talking of 4 AFCON titles rather than 3?
Let me know in your submissions underneath this comment 🙂
Exactly
You nailed it down too well, brother, but Ikpeba did not help the situation, too. His reaction showed that he missed the penalty while the replay showed that he had
crossed the line.
The lastman did not do his job because he saw the ball cross the line as well. Anyway, the deed will already be done. We move. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Expertly analysed here, bro.
Nothing more to add here!
Richie, my mind also went straight to that Ikpeba penalty. As Omo9ja said, Ikpeba’s reaction did not help matters at all. Unlike Ikpeba that put his hand on his head, already admitting defeat, the Swedish player was adamantly claiming that the ball crossed the line. Also recall the Zidane penalty in the 2006 world cup final. Zidane was already celebrating even though the ball did not look like it clearly cross the line. It’s a lesson for players. If you act as if you missed, the ref might agree with you!
At least, in all, we thank God for this VAR, that would no longer depend on human emotions, but strictly on the position of the object of play itself – which is the BALL – and nothing else. An impartial judge of sorts.
That was an intense encounter. Thank God VAR was consulted, and it was a clear goal.
Football is not who hold the ball or play the ball for the entire 90 minutes, but football is all about scoring goals and controlling the tenpo of the match that Sweden did. They came with a game plan, and they executed it so well and kudos to their goalie. Sweden was lucky, though, and they should thank God and their keeper.
In tomorrow match against England, the European champions will have most of the ball, but Falcons will deal with them and punish the English team with counterattacks.
This is where we need the service of Oparanozie and Gift Monday.
Oparanozie got injured in camp, not that she’s match rusty. She has been training with the team, and she was declared fit a day before Australia match, but the coaching crew decided not to rush her. She was eager to play and she is more than ready to play. Another plus for Nigeria.
Another thing is, coach Waldrum may stay both Asisat Oshoala and Oparanozie like he did during the New Zealand, or so, Oparanozie scored in that friendly match.
Nonetheless, I preferred the English team to Denmark. Denmark is stronger, physical and stricky than England.
Just like the USA, England has so many good players but weak as a team and if Super Falcons can take their chances and capitalize on the weaknesses of the English team, I am expecting 2 to 3 goals from our Super Falcons.
But if the Falcons shows England any form of respect, then they should say goodbye to the World Cup.
As I said last week, let’s the surprises continue. England is next to go. I am so happy this happened before our match tomorrow. This will motivate our ladies, and this will put more pressure on the English team.
If we win tomorrow, we playing Jamaica or Colombia. So, Super Falcons have do many things to prove in this tournament. For you to be the best, you have to beat the best teams. Shikena. Congratulations to Sweden for kicking out the defending champions. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
VAR has really cleared up a whole lot of injustice in modern-day football; I mean, I also remember how the likes of Lampard too felt against that grudge match against Germany @ SA 2010, and sooo many more similar incidents that I can’t even count, before VAR arrived
Omo9ja is really dreaming. Please wake up from ur slumber. Nigeria is coming home including Morocco.
Anyway, since the USWNT started this woke nonsense in their team, they have not been doing well at the world stage, some players even refused to sing their national anthem, because of some stupid agenda by the globalist’s cabals. Well issue right now is for the Super Falcons to sail through at England’s expense and wish my girlfriend (Jermaine Seoposenwa) quick recovery from the injury she sustained against those Kung Fu players of Netherlands.