The United States’ domination at the FIFA Women’s World Cup came to a nail-biting end on Sunday in Australia.
Having looked somewhat uneven and uninspired in the group stage, the Americans put forth their best effort of the tournament in the round of 16, but it wasn’t enough to see them past a resilient Sweden team who pulled out the win by the thinnest of margins.
THE RESULTS
Netherlands 2, South Africa 0 (in Sydney) – Game stats || Report
Sweden 0, United States 0 — 5-4 shootout win for Swedes (in Melbourne) – Game stats || Report
MAIN TALKING POINT
No three-peat for United States
For 10 seconds on Sunday, the Women’s World Cup came to a dramatic halt and the crowd inside the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium stood in eerie silence.
Lina Hurtig had just stepped up to the spot with a chance to win it in the penalty shootout after Sweden and the United States battled to a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes. American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who herself scored earlier on her penalty attempt, appeared to have made an athletic save on Hurtig.
But all eyes were suddenly on French referee Stéphanie Frappart, who let it be known the play was being reviewed by the VAR team. Did Naeher manage to deny Hurtig? Or did the ball manage to just get over the line? Those were just some of the questions being asked while VAR did its check.
The 10 seconds seemed like 10 minutes. Finally, Frappart received confirmation in her earpiece from the VAR booth that the ball did cross the goal-line — by the smallest of margins — and told the players on the field.
While the U.S. team looked on in utter disbelief, the Swedes erupted in celebration after handing the Americans their first World Cup loss since the 2011 final vs. Japan. Always the bridesmaid at this competition, Sweden has finished third and was runner-up in 2003, and this victory might just be the one that finally puts it over the top and en route to winning its first World Cup crown.
The U.S. will rightly feel somewhat hard done by on the day. The Americans carried the bulk of the play and created far more dangerous scoring chances than Sweden, whose only shot on target came in the 85th minute. But they couldn’t find a way to beat goalkeeper Zećira Mušović, who stood on her head between the posts for the Swedes. As a result, there’ll be no three-peat as World Cup champions for the United States, who for the first time in its history will finish lower than third place at this tournament.
Netherlands marches on, South Africa heads home
Finalists at the 2019 FIFA World Cup, the Netherlands remain on pace to do one better this time around following their shutout win over South Africa on Sunday. The Dutch topped Group E ahead of the United States, the two-time defending champions, and have to be considered among the tournament front-runners, although a tough quarterfinal match vs. Spain on Thursday looms large.
Jill Roord scored an early goal for the Netherlands and Lineth Beerensteyn added a second in the second half off a horrendous goalkeeping error by Kaylin Swart to book its spot in the next round. But this was not an easy outing for the ninth-raked Dutch against No. 54 South Africa, which was making its debut in the knockout round of the World Cup.
Although the Netherlands dominated possession (70 per cent) and dedicated the flow of the game, South Africa did not roll over and found moments of joy on the counter attack. Striker Thembi Kgatlana was a constant attacking nuisance for Banyana Banyana against a Dutch side that looked somewhat competent at times after going up 1-0. Even after Beerensteyn’s goal essentially sealed the Dutch win, the South Africans continued to press and made life difficult for the European powerhouse.
“I’m very happy with a good win against a tough opponent,” Netherlands coach Andries Jonker said. “But the part of me that wants great football is disgruntled with the first half, where we gave the ball away too much.”
South Africa carved out a number of quality scoring chances but couldn’t find a way to beat outstanding Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. It all could have been so different for the African upstarts on the day had they been more clinical with their finishing.
“Yesterday we spoke about needing to score more goals and we had the opportunities, especially in the first half. I’m just proud, disappointed of course, but really proud of this group of players,” South Africa coach Desiree Ellis said.
GOAL OF THE DAY
It has to be Lina Hurtig’s. It wasn’t the prettiest of goals, but it was the most significant, as it ended the Americans’ bid to win an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup.
FAN OF THE DAY
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I think I’m more disappointed than anything. I think as a group, we need to hold our heads up high. When we qualified for the last 16, the whole country went crazy and I’m expecting them to go crazy when we get back. This team really punched above their weight considering that we do not have what everybody else has — a professional league.” — South Africa coach Desiree Ellis.
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1. Zećira Mušović, Sweden: The Swedish goalkeeper was absolutely brilliant on the day, making 10 saves during the course of regulation and injury time to propel her team to an amazing win.
2. Jill Roord, Netherlands: She scored her fourth goal of the tournament to give her team an early lead and pace them to the win over South Africa.
3. Daphne van Domselaar, Netherlands: She made a string of important saves when South Africa was furiously pressing to preserve her team’s shutout win.
LOOKING AHEAD
The round of 16 continues on Monday with another pair of games. Reigning European champion England, which won all three of its group stage games by a combined score of 8-1, faces African surprise package Nigeria in Brisbane (3:30 a.m. ET). The Nigerians are looking to win their first-ever knockout round match in their ninth World Cup appearance. Also, co-host Australia takes on Denmark in Melbourne in Sydney (6:30 a.m. ET). The Australians are attempting to join the United States (in 1999) as the only host nation to win a Women’s World Cup.
John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 20 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic can be found here.
from Sportsnet.ca https://ift.tt/XMo0tjN
Post a Comment