The United States women’s soccer team went three and out on Friday, bringing to an end a remarkable era of Olympic glory. After three consecutive gold medals the American women finally met their match in Sweden, losing in a thrilling quarterfinal that went to penalty kicks.
Hope Solo was unable to save the U.S. in the shootout, meaning the trend of no reining World Cup champion ever winning Olympic gold continues.
Alex Morgan had the opening kick of penalties saved by Hedvig Lindahl, but Solo brought the Americans back into contention by spectacularly stopping Sweden’s third kick from Linda Sembrant.
However, the fifth and final kick for both teams proved crucial. Christen Press lost her nerve and blazed her effort over the crossbar, before Solo, despite stalling for time by changing gloves, did not get close to Lisa Dahlkvist’s decisive effort.
It was a familiar face that did the damage. It was 1-1 after regulation after Stina Blackstenius grabbed the Swedish goal on 61 minutes before Morgan equalized in the 77th, but the architect of the Scandinavian’s side upset triumph was its coach Pia Sundhage. In 2008 and 2012, it was Sundhage’s cheery, carefree deamenaor and technical knowhow that spearheaded the U.S. side to victory.
After that she returned to her homeland, with Jill Ellis taking charge of the American side for its awe-inspiring title at the Women’s World Cup in Canada last summer.
The closing stages of that tournament were a seamless romp for the U.S.
Friday’s clash was anything but.
Veterans Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd attempted to engineer a stirring finish for the U.S. but Sweden held on defensively late. While knockout round soccer is always a fickle time where form, reputation and prior performance often carries scant bearing, it had been easy to grow accustomed to expecting American success.
Yet Sweden dug in and after surviving an American burst towards the end of regulation, held its own in extra time. Lloyd and Sweden’s Schelin both had goals disallowed during the extra period, to set up the nail-biting finish from the penalty spot.
