NWSL San Diego Wave FC

Sweden Ends USA's World Cup Run by Penalty Kicks in Round of 16

Published on August 6, 2023 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
San Diego Wave FC News Release


The U.S. Women's National Team's run in the 2023 Women's World Cup was brought to an end by Sweden in the Round of 16 early Sunday morning. The two sides finished regulation time at 0-0, before going into the 30-minute overtime and ultimately heading to penalty kicks, with Sweden coming out victorious with five penalty goals to the USA's four.

San Diego Wave forward Sofia Jakobsson will now head to the Round of Eight with Sweden to take on Japan on Friday, Aug. 11. Jakobsson entered the match in the 82nd minute and forced a stop from USA's Alyssa Naeher three minutes later, marking the first and only shot on target for Sweden in the match.

The USA dominated statistically, recording 22 shots to Sweden's nine and making 11 shots on goal to just one for Sweden, while holding 58% of the possession.

Wave forward Alex Morgan and defender Naomi Girma have ended their 2023 World Cup run with USA but both played integral parts throughout the tournament. Morgan nearly gave the USA the lead several times with Sweden's goalkeeper making numerous game-saving saves to deny her goal-scoring opportunities. Girma showed her world class talent against Sweden, as well as throughout the entire tournament, as she and the USA defense successfully smothered almost every Swedish scoring opportunity.

Notes:

Sofia Jakobsson (SWE) and Emily van Egmond (AUS) are the two remaining San Diego Wave players in the FIFA Women's World Cup and will now head to the Round of 8. Van Egmond and Australia take on Denmark on Monday, August 7, and Jakobsson and Sweden will take on Japan on Friday, Aug. 11.

The USWNT was knocked out of the World Cup before the Semi-Final stage for the first time in team history.

Sweden won its first-ever World Cup penalty shootout with their only other being against China in 1995.

Naomi Girma was one of only three USWNT players to feature in every minute of the tournament for the USA. On Sunday, Girma made her 20th international appearance and 18th career start overall for the USA.

Alex Morgan made her 211th career appearance for the USWNT and played her 22nd Women's World Cup match, closing out her fourth FIFA Women's World Cup.

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