Heroine Megan Rapinoe and Sophia Smith skied their spot-kicks, Kelley O’Hara directed her tame effort into the upright to deny defending champions, USA, a quarter-final place in a heartbreaking conclusion to a FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup match played in Melbourne against Sweden today.
Sweden were the better side on spot-kicks but the USA improved their below average group stage display in the Round of 16 but could not find the net in regulation and extra time to send the goalless encounter to penalties. They won 5-4.
The Europeans will meet Japan in the quarterfinal while the USA head home to re-energize and find a formula to come back stronger at the next competition in 2027.
