Sweden end USA Women's World Cup dominance with penalty shootout victory

Sweden-USA is the most-played match-up in FIFA Women™s World Cup history with the sides meeting for a record seventh time in the history of the competition.

The US dominated from start to finish only to be denied by a heroic performance from Sweden goalkeeper Musovic. The Scandinavians managed to hold on until a thrilling topsy-turvy penalty shootout allowing the Swedes a smash-and-grab victory to put them in the quarters.

USA had the first attempt of the match in the eighth minute when Andi Sullivan dragged a 20-yard shot wide of Sweden goakeeper Zecira Musovic's right-hand post after good work down the right involving Alex Morgan.

The Stars and Stripes were doing most of the attacking and threatened again in the 18th minute. Trinity Rodman was allowed to turn and drive at the heart of the Sweden defence but her fizzing 25-yard effort was right at Musovic, who was able to parry clear.

Rodman was playing with plenty of confidence and ten minutes later she picked the ball up fourty yards from goal and drove straight at her marker, surging beyond the challenge and into the right-side of the area, but again her angled strike was too close to Musovic, who was able to push it to safety.

The Swedes were causing the holders headaches with dangerous set-pieces but it was the US who came closest from a dead-ball situation in the 35th minute. Lindsey Horan rose well to meet a right-wing corner but saw her bullet header clip the top of the crossbar and fly over the top.

The US continued to dictate matters after the break, while Sweden's defence was definitely creaking. Their keeper Musovic was having a belter and once again came to the rescue for her nation as she was quick off her line to smother the ball off Sophia Smith's heavy touch after the USA forward had latched on to a flick-on in the area.

USA keeper Allysa Naeher showed her worth in goal with a brilliant piece of play to come off her line and pluck the ball out of the air majestically from another threatening Sweden free-kick.

Sweden only had their first shot on target in the 86th minute. Sofia Jakobsson cut into the box after a probing run but her left-footed drive flies straight at Naeher.

The US almost snatched victory in the third minute of stoppage time but were denied by more Musovic heroics when the Swedish keeper did superbly well to keep out Morgan's header.

The sides could not be separated and so the match went to extra-time. Five minutes into first-half extra-time Naeher intervened again with another excellent interception from a Swedish corner.

Morgan once again was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Scandinavians when she held off her marker and battled into the left side of the area before unleashing a low strike from a narrow angle that forced a decent save out of Musovic.

The reigning back-to-back champions contuned to pile on the pressure and next Lynn Williams was set free on the right side of the area as once again Musovic denied the USA with a strong hand to block the forward's low, angled strike.

Neither side were able to score in extra-time and the match proceeded to a penalty shootout.

The sides cancelled each other out until 3-2 when Sweden missed their third through Nathalie Bjorn. Parity was restored when Megan Rapinoe missed the USA's fourth. Rebecka Blomqvist fired wide for Sweden's fourth giving Smith the chance to put the USA in the last eight, but she also missed.

Hanna Bennison then rattled the ball down the middle and into the back of the net to make it 3-3 and put the Swedes back on level terms. US keeper Naeher also netted down the middle next as Magdalena Eriksson fired superbly past Naeher to make it 4-4.

Kelley O'Hara hit the post for the US, giving Lina Hurtig the chance to win it for the Scandinavians. Initially, it looked as if Naeher had saved Hurtig's spot-kick, but after a check the ball was shown to have crossed the line giving Sweden the win.

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