The U.S. women’s soccer team’s quest for a fourth straight Olympic gold medal will go unfulfilled.
Team USA lost to Sweden on penalty kicks, 4-3, in a quarterfinal match at the Rio Olympics in Brazil on Friday afternoon.
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Tied at 1 after regulation, the teams played two 15-minute halves of extra time before going to penalty kicks to determine who would advance to the semifinals.
USA had the first penalty kick and Alex Morgan was denied by the Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
Sweden converted their first penalty kick for the 1-0 lead.
USA’s Lindsay Horan evened it at 1 with a successful penalty in the lower left corner.
Sweden then converted its second attempt for a 2-1 lead.
USA’s Carli Lloyd hit on the third penalty kick to tie it at 2.
Hope Solo denied Sweden’s third attempt, keeping it tied at 2 and making it even with two rounds of kicks left.
USA’s Morgan Brian gave the Americans a 3-2 lead on the fourth kick.
Sweden’s Lisa Dahlkvist converted its fourth kick, making it 3-3 heading into the fifth kick.
USA’s Christen Press sent her penalty kick over the crossbar in the fifth kick, setting up Sweden for the potential winning shot.
Sweden puts its last penalty kick in the right side of the net for the victory.
In extra time, The official waved off an apparent goal by Carli Lloyd in the 113th minute for a foul.
On Sweden’s next possession a minute or two later, an offisides call negated a goal after a misplayed ball by a U.S. defender.
Alex Morgan tied the score at 1 in the 78th minute for the Americans.
Sweden took the 1-0 lead in the 61st minute on a goal by Stina Blackstenius.
..... - Newsday