Tokyo Olympics: Sweden stun USA on first day of women's football event
Jul 21, 2021
Tokyo [Japan], July 21 : The first day of the women's football tournament at the Tokyo Olympics saw medal favourites USA going down to Sweden.
Sweden women's football team provided the first shock of the Tokyo 2020 Games as they beat the four-time Olympic gold medallists, the United States, 3-0 on the first day of the Olympic football tournament, reported the official website of the Olympics.
The USNWT last lost a match 44 games ago, so this feeling for the US will be unwelcome. Nevertheless, two teams go through from each group, with Australia and New Zealand also in Group G.
Stina Blackstenius' header into the far corner off a cross from Sofia Jakobsson in the 26th minute gave Sweden the first-half lead.
The United States came out stale, with its best chance of the opening half coming in the final moments when Rose Lavelle's shot hit the post. The half-time stats of six shots on goal for Sweden with 10 on target, to the US' one and three, tells the story.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski made changes for the second half, subbing in Carli Lloyd for Alex Morgan and Julie Ertz for Sam Mewis.
But Blackstenius scored again in the 54th minute, beating goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, as the Americans continued to struggle. Lina Hurtig then scored in the 72nd.
The loss was the first for United States under Andonovski, who took over when former coach Jill Ellis stepped down following the team's World Cup victory in France.
Sweden's next match is against Australia at the Saitama Stadium on Saturday (24 July). Team USA follows a few hours later against New Zealand. The men's competition starts on Thursday.
