USA and Sweden shared the points last night in a goalless draw in Winnipeg, in a result that leaves both teams able to qualify for this year’s knockout stages.
The European outfit, who drew their opening game 3-3 with Nigeria, were the ones asking the questions early on, with Sofia Jakobsson being their main threat.
Team USA defended well but had trouble in their midfield with players struggling to retain possession of the ball and misplacing passes across the park.
Both sides had early penalty appeals. USA’s was waved away with little complaint but there was more of an uproar from the women in yellow after a powerful shot flew into the area, but was impeded by the elbow of Sydney Leroux. Still, nothing was given.
After the break the Americans were able to up the ante in attack leaving Sweden on the back foot, often in and around their own box. The introduction of Abby Wambach and then Alex Morgan changed the dynamic of the game but still a goal was not scored.
Wambach had a fantastic chance with a diving header, but it was saved well by Chelsea’s Hedvig Lindah in the Swedish net, as the Scandanavians were forced in to only advancing forward on the counter.
However Sweden did find themselves with the best chance to win the match late on when Caroline Seger’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar and looked to be crossing the line, before USA’s Meghan Klingenberg cleared the danger. Goal-line technology was called in to play as the Americans held their breath, but luckily for them it confirmed the lack of a goal and the game finished all square.
The US remain at the top of group D, needing just a point in their final game against bottom of the group Nigeria to qualify for the next round. After Australia won their match earlier in the day, moving them to within one point of the top, Sweden now must beat the Matildas to have any chance of continuing in the tournament.
