RIO DE JANEIRO — Sweden knocked the United States out of the women’s Olympic soccer tournament on Friday, recording one of the sport’s biggest upsets by beating the defending champs 4-3 on penalty kicks in the quarterfinal after the two sides drew 1-1 after extra time.
Lisa Dahlkvist converted Sweden’s final penalty kick after Alex Morgan and Christen Press missed for the U.S. in the shootout. Linda Sembrant also missed for Sweden.
The United States, which dominated large parts of the match, have won four of the last five Olympic golds and had never not reached the Games final.
Sweden scored against the run of play after 61 minutes when Stina Blackstenius ran on to a defense-splitting pass and calmly slotted the ball past U.S. keeper Hope Solo.
The U.S., however, kept plugging away and scored a deserved equalizer after 77 minutes as the ball ricocheted off the face of Jessica Samuelsson and fell perfectly for Morgan to fire home from eight meters.
The match transpired exactly as expected: the United States hoarding possession while Sweden absorbed pressure and, in soccer parlance, parked the bus to compress space and thwart opportunities.
After the game, Solo remarked on the contrasting styles in blunt terms.
“I thought that we played a courageous game,” she told reporters. “I thought we had many opportunities on goal. I think we showed a lot of heart. . . . But I also think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today. I strongly believe that.”
Asked to explain her criticism of the Swedes, Solo said: “They didn’t want to pass the ball. They didn’t want to play great soccer. It was a combative game, a physical game. Exactly what they wanted and exactly what their game plan was. . . . I don’t think they’re going to make it far in the tournament. I think it was very cowardly. But they won. They’re moving on, and we’re going home.”
Told of Solo’s comments in her postgame news conference, Sweden coach Pia Sundhage retorted: “It is OK to be a coward if you win.”
U.S. coach Jill Ellis told reporters, “I’m sad for the players, disappointed for all the hard work we did” but said of Sweden’s play: “I’m not going to criticize the tactics they chose. It is a choice to play defensively and it is okay.”
In the 99th minute, Press replaced Megan Rapinoe, who on Tuesday had returned from an eight-month injury layoff and was only capable of playing 30 minutes or so. In the 101st minute, Hedvig Lindahl closed down Morgan’s angle and thwarted the attempt.
After Mallory Pugh left late in the extra period with an injury, allowing Lindsey Horan’s entry, both teams had goals disallowed.
Carli Lloyd of the U.S. headed in Crystal Dunn’s cross but was incorrectly ruled offside. (She also appeared to pull down defender Magdalena Eriksson.) A minute later, Sweden’s Lotta Schelin was wrongly ruled offside after collecting a deflected ball alone in the box and shooting past Solo.
Penalty kicks would have to settle the outcome.
“It could have gone either way,” Lloyd said. “Overall, we played well. It’s unfortunate to lose, but you best believe, in 2019 [World Cup in France] and 2020 [Olympics in Tokyo], we’re going to be back for the golds.”