USA v Sweden

The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home

USA v Sweden

USA And Sweden Serve Up Scoreless Stalemate

by Jeremy Ruane

Team USA and Sweden fought out an enthralling scoreless draw at Winnipeg Stadium on June 12, as the teams which respectively finished second and third at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals produced another of the most memorable games of the 2015 Finals so far.

It was an understandably cagey opening spell between these long-time rivals, with Swedish coach Pia Sundhage's previous appointment having seen her in charge of the USA squad. And her pre-match comments certainly added spice to the occasion!

The Americans wisely ignored them, and were the first team to threaten, in the thirteenth minute. Christen Press went down under the challenge of Nilla Fischer in the penalty area, prompting calls for a spot-kick. Japanese referee Sachiko Yamagishi waved play on, but replays showed Team USA had a strong case to the contrary.

Sweden responded with a decent spell of pressure, and after Lotta Schelin had fired over a teasing cross which required clearing by Ali Krieger, the European team had a very strong penalty claim turned down when Sydney Leroux blocked a fifteen yarder from Caroline Seger with her arm in the 22nd minute.

After Leroux had seen her header blocked following a Morgan Brian cross, Lisa Dahlkvist sent one flying over the bar during a period in which the Swedes looked the more likely team to break the deadlock.

But a concerted spell of attacking pressure after the half-hour from the USA soon saw the pendulum swinging in their direction. Megan Rapinoe, Press and Krieger all went close in one attack, with Therese Sjogran and goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl standing firm amid tremendous pressure.

Back came Sweden, with Krieger and the outstanding Julie Johnston combining to thwart Sofia Jakobsson in the 37th minute, the young defender belying her relative inexperience six minutes later to thwart both Jakobsson and Schelin as they looked to open the scoring just prior to half-time.

The USA began the second spell with a delightful move four minutes into it. Lauren Holiday darted between two players before linking with Press and Rapinoe. Her pass invited Carli Lloyd to let fly, but the American captain's rising drive was tipped over the bar by Lindahl.

Sweden's response saw Sjogran go close from distance, before she instigated a super one-touch move in which Seger and Schelin were also instrumental. Jakobsson was the ultimate beneficiary, but her touch was just too strong, allowing Solo to smother the danger.

Press and Jessica Samuelsson exchanged disappointing efforts on goal prior to the hour mark, upon which the USA had another penalty claim dismissed. Rapinoe's cross was flicked on by Leroux to Lloyd, who saw her effort strike Fischer's arm and ricochet to safety.

A stray pass from Press soon afterwards invited Sweden to counter-attack at pace, and Seger, Schelin and Jakobsson combined superbly in this regard, only to be thwarted by a splendid covering challenge by the fast-retreating Becky Sauerbrunn in

the 63rd minute.

Seconds later, the USA were back on the offensive, with substitute Amy Rodriguez bringing overlapping fullback Meghan Klingenberg into play. She sent the ball on to Rapinoe, whose cross targeted the incoming figure of Lloyd.

Samuelsson rose in front of her to head clear, but slumped to the ground upon clashing heads with Lloyd, the defender requiring treatment which saw her eventually return to the fray with her head swathed in bandages.

During her absence, the USA went close again from the resulting corner, Rapinoe's delivery picking out Press. Her shot was blocked, with Leroux directing the rebound over the bar in the 65th minute.

Another Leroux shot, this time on the turn following the combined work of Rapinoe and Rodriguez, flashed over the bar five minutes later, before substitute Abby Wambach went desperately close with a diving header from another Rapinoe cross.

The powerful striker was thwarted by a superb save from Lindahl, a denial which eventually earned her FIFA's Player of the Match honour. Her goal survived a few more scares before the final whistle, however, with Seger forced to head over her own bar from Rapinoe's resulting corner, with Lloyd flying in to head home.

Back came Sweden, a stray Lloyd pass - she was off her game in that regard in this encounter - being pounced on by Jakobsson, whose shot deflected to safety off Sauerbrunn.

Thirteen minutes from time came the moment when the game could have been decided, with 32,716 fans looking on in amazement at what occurred after Elin Rubensson pinged over a corner which substitute Linda Sembrant flicked on.

Seger promptly let fly, and it looked a goal for all money until the diminutive Klingenberg - the smallest player on the park - rose to head the ball against the underside of her own crossbar, the ball ricocheting to safety.

To say the USA were relieved is an understatement, while Sweden couldn't believe the ball hadn't gone in. It proved to be the last chance of the match, although the USA had another penalty claim turned down in the final minutes when Wambach and Fischer clashed in the area.

The scoreless draw kept the USA top of the group, but leaves Sweden needing to beat Australia in their final group game to be certain of advancing to the next round. Defeat, or even a third draw, could see them heading for home a great deal earlier than anticipated, such is the general closeness of this Women's World Cup.

USA: Solo; Krieger, Johnston, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg; Brian (Rodriguez, 58), Lloyd, Holiday, Rapinoe; Press (Wambach, 67), Leroux (Morgan, 78)

Sweden: Lindahl; Rubensson, Ilestedt, Fischer, Samuelsson; Jakobsson, Seger, Dahlkvist, Nilsson (Sembrant, 70); Sjogran (Appelqvist, 75), Schelin

Referee: Sachiko Yamagishi (Japan)

2015 Draw