ANI
21 Jul 2021, 18:33 GMT+10
Tokyo [Japan], July 21 (ANI): 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. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Auckland Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Auckland Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump is drawing praise from his core supporters after halting key arms shipments to Ukraine, a...
MOSCOW, Russia: This week, Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan since...
CAIRO, Egypt: This week, both Hamas and Israel shared their views ahead of expected peace talks about a new U.S.-backed ceasefire plan....
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has made public a visa decision that would usually be kept private. It did this to send...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): South Africa's stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder created history on Sunday with a record-breaking innings...
(Photo credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images) Road course ace Shane van Gisbergen roared to the lead on Lake Shore Drive and ran away...
(Photo credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images) The Washington Wizards completed a three-team trade on Sunday, acquiring guard CJ McCollum,...
Birmingham [UK], July 6 (ANI): India created history with a 336-run win over England in the second Test at Birmingham as not only did...
By Vipul Kashyap New Delhi [India], July 6 (ANI): Punjab Kings (PBKS) uncapped Indian batter Priyansh Arya, who was brought for a...
New Delhi [India], July 6 (ANI): Goals are the ultimate deciding factor in football, and players who consistently find the back of...