Surprises keep coming at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand. The round of 16 encounter between Sweden and the United States was exciting from start to finish, but unfortunately for the Stars and Stripes, the result was not in their favor. They ended their participation in this World Cup tournament.
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One hundred and twenty minutes of football was not enough for the 'everybody's team' to send a single ball into the back of the net and this was the greatest sin for the team led by Vlatko Andonovski, because despite dominating the opening match in the final, they were forced to leave the World Cup empty-handed.
The North American's attacking stats are incredible, as they put the Swedes in trouble on a total of 21 chances, 11 of which were shots on goal, but interventions by goalkeeper, Zisera Mosovic, were key to keeping their unbeaten goal going into regulation and extra time.
Already in the shootout, the USA has faced Sweden on two occasions. The first on the fourth charge, when Megan Rapinoe fired her shot, and the second on the fifth charge, when Sophie Smith sent her shot over the side of the goal. Thus, one of the mathematical principles was falsified, which is summed up in the traditional phrase: He who forgives loses.
This is the first time in their history that the Stars and Stripes have been eliminated in the quarter-finals, not just in a World Cup, but in any higher-level competition, which is really crazy. Furthermore, his elimination also ended an amazing streak of 25 consecutive tournaments that reached at least the quarterfinals.
Team USA is leaving the 2023 Australia-New Zealand finals, and although this defeat would be considered a failure by the standards Team USA has set over the years, it can say goodbye to the Women's World Cup with its head held high, because it left it all on the field.
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