In the seventh round of a penalty-kick shootout at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the U.S. women’s national team’s fate was sealed in a game of inches—or even millimeters.
On the final penalty kick against Sweden, the USWNT was eliminated in the round of 16 by the slimmest of margins that required a dramatic VAR review that held the world of soccer in suspense after a goalless match.
With the chance to win the match for Sweden, Lina Hurtig stepped up to the penalty spot and sent a shot on target that was initially stopped by Alyssa Naeher. But the U.S. keeper’s save sent the ball up into the air along the goal line as she reached back to paw the ball off the line.
After review, the penalty is good and Sweden wins 🇸🇪
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
🇺🇸:✅✅✅❌❌✅❌
🇸🇪:✅✅❌❌✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/PbidlCoiWd
While it appeared at first that Naeher had successfully made the save, the match official pointed to her earpiece to check for a VAR review. Waiting on the critical call—one that would either keep the U.S. alive in the shootout or send the team crashing out in its earliest Women’s World Cup exit ever—the stadium fell silent for nearly 10 seconds.
Finally, the match official blew her whistle and called an end to the match, signaling for a goal. The decision sent the Sweden bench into uproar as it rushed the pitch amid the U.S. players laying devastated in the wake of their historic loss.
The moment Sweden learned it was moving on to the Quarterfinals 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/PhZJf4lS7c
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
About a minute later, FIFA released the goal line technology review showing just how close Naeher came to making the save. By rule, the entire ball needs to be across the line, which the review confirmed to have occurred.
Alyssa Naeher nearly kept it out 🧤 pic.twitter.com/DjpatlgCKD
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
The review came just after extra-time substitute Kelley O’Hara had missed a penalty in the shootout. Megan Rapinoe had also missed earlier in the shootout while Sophia Smith missed a penalty that would have sent the U.S. into the quarterfinals.
