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View all search resultsSweden dumps defending champion US out of World Cup
Rapinoe calls early exit ‘sick joke’, ‘dark comedy’.
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weden stunned the United States 5-4 in a sudden-death penalty shootout Sunday to consign the defending champion to its earliest-ever Women's World Cup soccer exit on Sunday.
Sweden set up a quarter-final against Japan and ended the US dreams of an unprecedented third World Cup title in a row in the most painful and dramatic fashion.
The title-holder dominated the 90 minutes of normal time but a breakthrough proved elusive with Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic making some startling saves to keep her side alive.
With the 0-0 deadlock remaining after extra-time it went to penalties in Melbourne, and the tension went up another notch.
Sweden's Nathalie Bjorn was the first to miss, skying high, only for Megan Rapinoe to do the same.
Both teams missed again, but when Kelley O'Hara hit the post, it was all down to Sweden's Lina Hurtig. She hit the winner, but only after VAR ruled her kick had crossed the line by the most slender of margins.
It was an inglorious end for the US and especially Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner at the 2019 tournament. She will retire at the end of the season.
