Sweden eliminates USWNT in penalties in round of 16, ending hopes for three-peat

Sweden and the United States meet once again in a high-stakes round of 16 match at the 2023 women’s World Cup, with the winner set to advance to the quarterfinals while the loser makes an early exit. The last time these two teams played, Sweden won 3-0 over USA in the Olympics in Tokyo.

Despite looking shaky in the group stage, the Americans are +130 moneyline favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook. Sweden is priced as a +230 underdog despite winning all three group games, and a draw comes in at +195. USA is -150 to advance from the contest, while Sweden is +125.

Here are the latest updates from Sweden vs. USA.

Sweden vs. USA live updates

Penalty shootout

Hurtig looked to initially be denied by Naeher but the rebound was actually not saved by the USA goalkeeper despite a brilliant attempt. Sweden eliminates the defending champions in the penalty shootout 5-4 and the dream for the USA three-peat is officially over.

Kelley O’Hara misses off the post and Sweden can win on the next kick.

Unreal make from Eriksson for Sweden. 4-4 as we continue sudden death kicks.

Naeher steps up and makes the penalty for the Americans to start sudden death kicks, and now she will be able to win it with a save.

Finally, a Sweden make after a string of misses. We’re tied 3-3.

Sophia Smith has a chance to win it for USA and she misses! It’s still 3-2 USA but Sweden can tie it up on the fifth kick.

NAEHER MAKES A SAVE! Blomqvist is denied and it’s still 3-2 USA. One make will end it.

Megan Rapinoe steps up for the Americans and also sends it over! We’re still at 3-2 for the Americans.

A MISS FROM SWEDEN! Naeher doesn’t guess right but Nathalie Bjorn sends it over the post.

Kristie Mewis, who was a late sub in the 120th minute, takes the next penalty. It’s her first touch of the 2023 World Cup and she comes through to make it 3-2 USA.

Sweden send Elin Rubensson next and she makes it as well. 2-2.

Lindsey Horan is up next for USA. The co-captain gets the job done and it’s 2-1 to the Americans.

Fridolina Rolfo steps up first for Sweden and levels the shootout at 1-1.

Andi Sullivan is up for for the USWNT in penalty kicks. She sinks it in the corner and it’s 1-0 USA in the shootout.

End of regular time – Sweden 0, USA 0. To the penalty shootout we go!

120th minute – Sonnett and Fox are out, while Kelley O’Hara and Kristie Mewis are in for the Americans.

119th minute – Ertz finally draws a yellow after holding up Rebecka Blomqvist on a deep ball. She was clearly going to be in on the American goal, and Ertz made the right decision to hold her up. It’s going to cost her a card but at this point penalties are likely.

114th minute – The Americans have put 11 shots on target but have not found the back of the net. Sweden have only put one shot on target and could still get out of this with a win in penalties. We’ll see if USA can break through in the final six minutes of open play.

107th minute – Smith makes a run on the near post and does get a shot off, but once again Musovic rises to the occasion and makes a save.

End of first extra time period – Sweden 0, USA 0. The Americans had a few more chances than the Swedish, but it’s been the goalkeepers for both teams doing most of the work. Musovic has kept Sweden in the match, while Naeher has made some decisive moves on set pieces.

102nd minute – Musovic has kept Sweden in the match, denying Williams on a solid shot. Horan puts in a rebound shot and that one is blocked as well.

99th minute – Megan Rapinoe is coming in for Alex Morgan, which is an interesting decision especially if this match does go all the way to penalties. Smith is going to move into the middle, and Rapinoe will hope to make the impact play the Americans have lacked in the final third.

96th minute – The referee has been generous when it comes to contact, which has led to some physical challenges. Morgan comes down with a long pass and eventually forces a save from Musovic, although the angle made it unlikely for her to actually score.

94th minute – Sweden has built up some good offensive pressure to start the first extra time period, sending in a few crosses and putting a few shots up. None have tested Naeher but the Swedish are trying to change the momentum after being pushed for most of regulation by the United States.

End of regular time – Sweden 0, USA 0. We are going to extra time, which will consist of two 15-minute halves. The Americans have been the more dominant side with 60% possession, 14 shots with six on target to Sweden’s seven shots with one on target, but ultimately the only line that matters is the one on the scoreboard. USA is +220 at DraftKings Sportsbook on the extra time moneyline, while Sweden is +550. A draw in extra time is -155. The Americans are -160 to advance, while Sweden is +125 to move on.

89th minute – Another amazing save from Musovic! Morgan was there on a cross from Williams, but the Swedish goalkeeper gets her hands to the ball and keeps it out of the goal.

88th minute – Sweden gets another corner and this time Naeher is unable to get to the ball, but her teammates do well enough to put that ball out of harm’s way. A Swedish shot from outside the box is way off, and another set piece is seen off without much trouble.

85th minute – A great save from Naeher, after Sofia Jakobsson puts a rocket on frame from inside the box. It’s the first real threat from Sweden in a long time, but it could’ve been the decider. This is the danger zone where one mistake could end somebody’s World Cup in a flash.

80th minute – Once again, the Americans fail to make the final pass in the last third and squander another opportunity. Sweden appear set to make a few substitutions, and now both coaches have to be thinking how to manage the rosters with extra time and potentially penalty kicks on the table.

75th minute – Sweden finally makes a strong move, and Dunn’s slide tackle did not connect. That nearly opened up the American defense, but the back line did recover in time to get the ball out of the box.

69th minute – Horan goes down after Filippa Angeldal crashes into her hip. The co-captain appears to be fine and is now up.

68th minute – Lynn Williams has come on for Rodman, and Naeher makes another strong save on a free kick into the box. The United States has done well dealing with set pieces, denying Sweden a free run on these opportunities. Naeher has also judged each ball perfectly.

61st minute – Rodman nearly made the first major mistake of the match, playing a poor ball back to Ertz who does well enough to avoid a Swedish player getting in a prime position for a shot. Sweden have pushed up a bit in an effort to tame the USA attack but it’s a game that has still been largely in the attacking third for the Americans.

53rd minute – Horan is denied again after connecting well on a shot off a cross from Emily Fox, who is absolutely dominating her flank on the right. The Americans are knocking on the door, but Musovic has been up to the challenge so far. Still 0-0.

49th minute – We have our first card of the match as Kosovare Asllani slides into the plant leg of Julie Ertz on a clearance. Ertz is fine after grabbing her ankle initially, while Asllani has been shown a yellow card.

Halftime – Sweden 0, USA 0. The Americans looked much better in the first half than in the final two group stage games, putting up five shots with two on target. Sweden only got two shots, with neither on target. USA has controlled the ball with 63% of the possession. They’ve completed 106 more passes and have a 79% pass accuracy to Sweden’s 63%. There have been 10 total fouls with six being committed by Sweden.

45th minute – Jonna Andersson is down for Sweden after appearing to take an elbow to the face from Rodman on a 50-50 ball. She’s getting some treatment but appears to be alright and should continue. This is a dangerous time for both teams, but especially for Sweden given how the USWNT’s attack has looked. Conceding just before the half would be rough.

42nd minute – This new attacking approach hasn’t produced a goal yet for the United States, but this looks like a completely different team. Girma and Ertz have been great as the ones pulling the strings with longer through-balls, and Sullivan is showing more confidence after failing to make an impact in the final third in the group stage. Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith and Rodman have also been locked in. Now, it’s about finding a go-ahead goal. Sweden’s back line is holding up well but there have been plenty of tense moments for them.

34th minute – Horan gets a great opportunity on the corner and heads it just above the goal. Musovic does make an attempt at a save but the ball was always going over the crossbar. The United States has been good at creating in the final third, but the midfield continues to play in a defensive shell. Sullivan has been better with Sonnett’s inclusion though, as she’s making more moves forward.

28th minute – There’s been good attacking play from the United States in the last few minutes, particularly with Rodman. She’s put up a few good shots and made some solid runs in the final third. The Americans are getting some strong play from Girma when it comes to switching the field and playing longer through-balls, but they’re eventually going to need better offensive play from Sonnett and Sullivan.

24th minute – The Americans have fended off a few more set piece opportunities from Sweden, and now Rodman is down after taking a big hit on a 50-50 ball. She appears to be fine, but she has been grabbing at her hip during the early going in this match.

19th minute – Trinity Rodman gets the first solid shot on target of the match, forcing a save from Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.

18th minute – USA is missing Lavelle badly right now. Lindsey Horan has not been great with her first touch so far, and the other midfielders are more defensive-minded as previously discussed. This has led to Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn pushing forward, with Julie Ertz and Naomi Girma also playing up more and serving balls in. It’s tough to ask the defenders to keep doing this much work but the Americans are still lacking good midfield play.

10th minute – The first set piece for Sweden is a corner, and the Americans fend it off with Alyssa Naeher getting a punch on the ball to push it out of the box.

7th minute – USA gets its first shot courtesy of Andi Sullivan, who attempts a longer shot after a nice build-up gets ruined by a few Sweden deflections at the back. Sullivan does have more of a defensive approach but she’s going to have to be more aggressive with Rose Lavelle out and the Americans choosing to lean into a more defensive-minded lineup to start this game.

5th minute – The crosses are coming in from Sweden, but so far no one has found the mark. The Americans haven’t given up a set piece opportunity yet, and that will be the focus with Sweden scoring most of their goals from set pieces.

1st minute – For now, Ertz is staying in her center back spot and Sonnett is in as a holding midfielder. We’ll see if that changes in any way, but the Americans are reinforcing their stellar defense.

Pregame – The odds haven’t moved much, oscillating between +130 and +125 for the United States on the moneyline at DraftKings Sportsbook. A draw is coming in at +205, while Sweden is +225.

Pregame – Here’s a look at our game pick, USA’s starting lineup and the officiating crew for the match. Julie Ertz looks set to return to the midfield with Emily Sonnett taking her place on the back line. Trinity Rodman also returns to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the last match. Rose Lavelle is not available due to card accumulation, while Megan Rapinoe continues to be available off the bench.