MELBOURNE, Australia -- The U.S. women's national team's run as Women's World Cup champion is over. The Americans fell to Sweden in the round of 16 via a penalty shootout, losing 5-4 after extra time finished goalless.
The loss marks the U.S. team's earliest exit from a Women's World Cup in its history.
This was a match the U.S. could have and should have won several times over, only to be denied by the brilliance of Sweden keeper Zecira Musovic and its own inability to convert under pressure in the shootout when one more kick would have won it.