You can read the match report from today’s game here:
Final thoughts
Just like last year in Canada at the World Cup, Sweden’s goalkeeper, Lindahl was huge and delivered. But to be honest, this match should have been won in regular time when America had so many opportunities to put the game away. A lot of credit goes out Sweden and Sundhage who knew that with a little bit of luck, mixed with some strong defending, America could be defeated. Congratulations to Sweden. For the US, Rio is over. Thanks for tuning in!
P.S A million apologies for any typos....
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Final score: USA 1-1 Sweden (Sweden win 4-3 on penalties)
Sweden defeat USA on penalties. The Americans are out.
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Goal! 4-3! Sweden go through the next round! Amazing. USA eliminated from the tournament!
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Dahlqvist wants to take it but Hope Solo changes gloves before she takes it. Mind games.
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Miss!! Press hits it over the bar! If Sweden score they go through!
Seger, Sweden’s captain scores. 3-3.
Goal! USA make it 3-2.
Solo saves it!!!!!! Wow. Not the best pen. Remains 2-2.
Goal! Lloyd with a great shot. 2-2.
Goal! Sweden scores! Hope Solo is really not doing much here.
Goal! USA. 1-1 in pens but Morgan missed the first.
Goal! Sweden 1-0 in pens. Solo didn’t do much.
Penalty kicks
Miss! Alex Morgan doesn’t score. What a save.
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Full time, extra time: USA 1-1 Sweden
120+2 min: And we’re going to penalties. Press had a great chance to cross it in from inside the box but takes a shot instead which goes over. Ladies and gentlemen: We are going to penalties.
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120+1: We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time.
119 min: Berglund replaces Samuelsson as we are so close to penalties. Here comes Morgan on the counter with a great run on the left hand side but her shot powers wide. What a great run!
Indeed.
THIS. GAME. #USAvSWE pic.twitter.com/hBqP4SfFqH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 12, 2016
118 min: Not long now and I can’t believe it: two disallowed goals in the space of 30 seconds. America’s was the right call....Sweden? I don’t think so.
115 min: Dunn once again dribbles inside the area but can’t find anyone...then on a second attempt she finds Lloyd and it goes in! But it’s disallowed! OH MY GOD. Now Sweden have chance and score!! But again it’s disallowed for offside, which wasn’t. WOW.
111 min: Sweden retain some possession as USA are made to defend. Mallory Pugh is down, getting some attention. Horan replaces her.
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109 min: Another dangerous ball in the box gets called for offside. The US want to win RIGHT NOW.
107 min: A great cross from Dunn gets cleared in the box but America keep on fighting, Sweden, though, won’t give them an inch.
105 min: And this is it! The last 15 minutes before a possible PK shootout. Both teams have been giving it their all so it’s now a test of will and conditioning.
End of first half of extra time: USA 1-1 Sweden
105+1 min: Blackstenius has been a force for Sweden, leading the line with strength and vision. First half ends with some tired legs out there as Linda Sembrant is knocked from a shot by Press.
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100 min: What a chance for Morgan once again as she is 7 yards from goal. Good goalkeeping blocks shot and it’s a corner. Sweden defending for their lives right now as America keep on attacking. Christen Press, by the way, replaces Rapinoe. Not the best game for her who actually was brought on to replace O’Hara.
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98 min: A corner for the US gets cleared by Sweden and here they counter once again! An offside is called, however, so danger averted for America.
94 min: Both teams are slightly more cautious as we begin extra time. The energy, understandably, is being salvaged.
Here’s Alex Morgan’s goal. Thanks, Ben.
GOAL USA!! 1-1. (78') #Rio2016 #USAvSWE https://t.co/KaYFWydyEK
— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) August 12, 2016
90 min: We are off! Sweden kicks off. Schough for Jackobsson replacement.
Full-time: USA 1-1 Sweden
90+3 min: Peep! And that’s it for the 90. We are heading to extra time. We will have 30 minutes of more action. No golden goal. If it’s tied up we go to penalties. And a fourth substitute will be allowed.
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90 min+1: We are in stoppage time. Three minutes to be added.
89 min: Dunn has been prolific, causing Sweden all sorts of problems. A great substitution as it injected that much needed energy. Free-kick from the right hand side for America as Rapinoe looks to cross it in. gets cleared.
84 min: What a chance for Lloyd! Dunn once again gets in the box, leaves it to the captain who does a lovely dummy before she shoots but gets deflected. It’s all America right now as they are looking for the winner.
81 min: Another corner for the US taken by Rapinoe goes out but USA keep on penetrating the box. Dunn is basically playing the free role and is EVERYWHERE. This time attacking from the left hand side. Her pace is causing the Swedes a major headache, might prove to be factor in the latter stages.
“Tales of a USA coach...”
Dear diary: You're not going to believe what just happened .... pic.twitter.com/bsvmS3MiLz
— Andrew Das (@AndrewDasNYT) August 12, 2016
Goal! USA 1-1 Sweden (Morgan 77)
77 min: A great ball in the box looking at Dunn doesn’t quite find her, deflects off a Swedish defender and guess who.....Alex Morgan capitalizes first time and nets it in. Breathe, America.
Aaron Rodgers wants us to calm down.
Rapinoe is in. Relax. We got this. #Rio2016 #USWNT #RandyMarsh2016
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) August 12, 2016
74 min: Another corner for USA turns into nothing once again as Pugh’s shot from outside the box goes over.
71 min: Dunn is causing an immediate impact. What a run from the right hand side as she enters the box crosses it on the ground but no one can get a good hold of it. Sub for both: Rapinoe on for O’Hara and Eriksson replaces Rubensson.
69 min: Dunn’s introduction offers more of a direct threat but a strong Swedish backline is not giving away ANYTHING.
64 min: A substitution beckons for USA as Dunn replaces Allie Long. It’s now or never for Ellis and co.
Goal! USA 0-1 Sweden (Blackstenius 61)
61 min: Wow. It’s that counter-attacking danger we were talking about and the substitute, who replaced Rolfo earlier on scores as Sweden breaks from defending in their own box.
Sydney is MAD.
Take them down anyway you can! 😈 It's go time #USWNT! #USAvSWE pic.twitter.com/VHuUBttRdQ
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) August 12, 2016
57 min: A yellow card for Schelin as she brings down Heath. A deep cross coming in from America but it finds no one.
54 min: Sweden’s counter-attacking is causing USA a lot of problems. a cross from the right hand side gets cleared away. Still, the danger is there and America need to be ready.
51 min: Another free-kick outside the box, this time from the other side and slightly further away. Lloyd once again takes it and it’s a direct shot that just goes over!
48 min: USA are awarded a free-kick just outside the box and Lloyd stands behind the ball to take it. A one-two means she takes it by herself and the shot goes well wide. Smart decision, but once again the final product wasn’t there.
45 min: Peep! And we’re back! The second half begins the same as the first with the US looking to control from the get go.
Half-time
45+1 min: Peep! That’s the half and it’s 0-0. To be quite honest it’s amazing how they haven’t scored yet. Both dressing rooms will be getting slightly different advice: USA need to maintain their domination and continue putting balls in the box. Sweden need to control the midfield - which seems unlikely as Brian is having none of it. I’ll be back for the second half.
44 min: Here’s the thing. As soon as the US enter the last third the movement needs to be even quicker. What a chance! Carli Lloyd is one on one with the keeper but a can’t get it over. A second attempt goes over. WOW! And then a deep free-kick perfectly in the the box can’t find the back of the net. Amazing. One minute of injury time.
41 min: As we approach the end of the first half, Ellis will be keen to address the need to be more clinical, which is really all they need to do. Morgan Brian has been amazing, running everywhere and making sure the right ball is distributed. Another corner for Sweden petitions Solo to jump and punch it out.
37 min: A corner for Sweden gets cleared only just outside the box as another ball dangerously goes in. Solo just about punches it out and USA counter but can’t find the right pass. Frustration begins for America. P.S - Lloyd just did a ridiculously good move on the right wing. I’ll try and find you the gif.
32 min: The fact that USA haven’t scored yet is pretty incredible. The domination in the midfield has been key in order to create opportunities but that final touch has just not happened. Brian by the way, has been great, bossing the middle.
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28 min: What a chance! How does not go in? Lloyd from 5 yards out but she just can’t get the power and it’s cleared once again. The US need a goal or they might regret it if they can’t capitalize on their 75% possession.
Heath magic.
Tobin Heath, prazer. #USAvSWE pic.twitter.com/hgVG6YRGfJ
— Alessandra (@jauregdragonfly) August 12, 2016
25 min: What a chance for the US as a shot from outside the box is blocked! Sweden keep countering but again a long ball into the danger zone aiming for Asllani gets mishit. This is the Heath show. Every time she gets the ball, she looks so dangerous. Cross after cross from the right hand side keeps coming in but nothing materializes.
Agreed, Julie. Don’t even, fellas.
DO NOT ever whisper such things. https://t.co/1nYzgFINlI
— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) August 12, 2016
17 min: Another corner for the US (I think that makes it 145) and Lloyd can’t quite get it on target. Morgan is down as she collided during the cross. Gets up and carries on. Surely one of these corners have to come to something...
A note on the booing. Despite the fact that the stadium is not full by any means, the crowd boo the US. It really shocks me to be honest. If this is due to Hope Solo’s remarks then Ellis and her team better get ready - if they beat Sweden, Brazil (if they win) is next.
11 min: Despite the fact that the US has had more chances, Sweden have been showing signs of counter-attacking danger. They’re an extremely physical side and Sundhage has clearly told her players to not give the US any space. It’s still all America, however, as every single ball is distributed to the right hand side where Heath loves to cross them. another clearance by Sweden.
7 min: Sweden manages to enter USA’s half and get a corner from a run in the box. It’s cleared and USA control again. The clear incentive once America re-gains possession it o spread it out wide - especially to Heath. Just a note on the pitch itself, Ellis called it “unprecedented.” The surface does not look great.
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4 min: A bright start from the red, white and blue as the midfield totally dominating the game in the first stages. Carli LLoyd with a beautiful pass that doesn’t quite reach the wings but comes out for a corner. Morgan takes it and it’s mayhem in the box as Sweden clears it! Another corner and Sweden clears again. It’s all USA right now.
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Kick-off
1 min: Peep! And we’re off! USA kicks off, wearing white - Sweden in blue. NBC pointing out the battle between Morgan Brian and Caroline Seger (three-time Olympian) in the midfield.
The squads come out from the tunnel and the stadium looks magnificent and the players locked in. The anthems are sung with passion and vigor as the fans salute their players.
I know, I’m getting romantic in my old age. Kick-off is next!
Go get 'em, #USA 👊
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 12, 2016
Good luck to @ussoccer_wnt in today's match versus #SWE: https://t.co/0oWRzdxW7n #USAvSWE pic.twitter.com/kwudvNVXII
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Today's teams
USA: Solo, O’Hara, Johnston, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg, Pugh, Long, Brian, Heath, Lloyd, Morgan. Subs: Naeher, Engen, Horan, Krieger, Press, Rapinoe, Dunn.
Sweden: Lindahl, Rubensson, Fischer, Sembrant, Samuelsson, Seger, Dahlqvist, Asllani, Jakobsson, Rolfo, Schelin. Subs: Carlen, Andersson, Berglund, Ericsson, Blackstenius, Schough, Appelqvist.
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley (New Zealand)
This is going to be a tough match for USA for many reasons. To begin with, Sweden’s coach - Pia Sundhage - knows America very well. She coached USWNT from 2008-2012 and won two gold medals in China and London. Second, despite the fact that they haven’t been lighting it up in Rio (1-1-1) their familiarity with today’s opponent will be a weapon to use wisely. Last year at the World Cup, battled to a scoreless draw in the last match of Group D. USA coach Jill Ellis described it as two heavyweights going at it.
Stay tuned. This should be a good one.
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Hello and welcome
The first of today’s women’s football quarter-finals gets under way, and it’s the world and Olympic champions USA against No6-ranked Sweden. Kick off is 12pm ET – join us then!
Luis will be here shortly. In the meantime, read why USA are a better side than the one that won the World Cup last year:
USA should be ready for the challenge. Johnston’s return may help on set pieces at either end of the field. Ellis probably doesn’t need to try Rapinoe again in any role other than an extra attacking threat in extra time, when Fifa has decreed teams will be allowed a fourth substitute.
This team is younger than the 2015 model, but it still has the experience to adjust and improve as a tournament progresses. The Colombia result will destroy any complacency that may have crept in, and the USA are unlikely to have a similar letdown the rest of the way.
