The architect of the demise of the US women’s national team, goalkeeper Zecira Musovic of Sweden, must have gotten into the minds of anyone who took a penalty kick.
She must have that. How else can you explain Megan Rapinoe and Sophia Smith – two of the most confident forwards in the women’s game – completely missing their penalties on the world’s biggest stage?
Musovic’s coach, Peter Gerhardsson, credited the victory to his goalkeeper’s effort, both physical and mental, in a performance that won Player of the Match while condemning the United States to their worst-ever defeat at the Women’s World Cup after a 5–4 defeat on penalties.
“When you get to a penalty shootout, it’s the keeper’s game,” said Gerhardsson (via ESPN). ‘(Musovic) likes penalties, she knows it’s her game.
“I don’t know what she did, what mental things she did to make them go over the bar and things like that. But I think goalkeepers like this kind of penalty, they are mentally prepared, that’s their game.
Zecira Musovic won Player of the Match for her great performance in net for Sweden
Her coach, Peter Gerhardsson, believes Musovic did something to mentally influence the US
As a result of Musovic’s efforts, Megan Rapinoe (above) and the USA have been eliminated from the World Cup
“She was good at the game. Even if she didn’t save penalties, I think for the other team, maybe they put it out because they know if it’s not a good penalty, she might take it.’
Admittedly, Musovic didn’t save a single penalty. She reserved all her saving skills for the 120 minutes of play that immediately preceded it.
As the United States continued to struggle to finish their chances – a problem evident in their first game against Vietnam – Musovic recorded an impressive 11 saves against the Stars and Stripes.
In a game where the US defeated Sweden 22-9 on aggregate and eleven-to-one in shots on target, Musovic – who plays her club football at Chelsea – never really seemed in trouble.
Even in the closest moments – a 27th minute block on Trinity Rodman, a Lindsay Horan effort in the 53rd minute and a last-ditch effort from Alex Morgan in minute 89 – Musovic never faltered and never seemed rushed.
Her fantastic effort ended the game 0–0 after extra time on penalties – helping the Americans secure their longest-ever goal-scoring drought at a World Cup at 238 minutes.
“To be able to perform in that way, years of hard work have been put into it that no one sees,” said Musovic. “The main reason why I’m a goalkeeper is because I give my team the chance to win the game.
“I can only do my best and you can only enjoy the feeling of being in the zone and things happening in a way that you just do it.”
Musovic made no less than eleven saves on Sunday in both regular time and extra time
Rapinoe (L) and Sophia Smith (R) – two of the best American forwards – missed their penalties
“I had a really good feeling before the game. I know we faced a very good opponent in the US, the number 1 in the world. We had a good feeling in the team, we know what we are capable of.
“It was the style of play, just give it your best, support each other and stay humble the whole game.”
Musovic saw a total of four shots pass her by during the shootout. The first three attempts by the Americans Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan and penalty substitute Kristie Mewis brought the USA to 3-2. When Sweden’s Nathalie Bjorn became the first punt taker to miss in round three, the USWNT appeared to have a chance.
Stepped up Megan Rapinoe – the retired legend of women’s soccer – who played a tough game to her high standards right up to her penalty. Her penalty kick was also certainly nowhere near those standards as it sailed over the crossbar – prompting Rapinoe to run back to her teammates, laughing at herself.
A great save from Alyssa Naeher to deny Rebecka Blomqvist gave the Americans a chance to end it all by sending their phenom Sophia Smith to the spot.
Again she stared at Musovic. Once again, Musovic’s presence startled the normally steely American whose shot was more likely to land in Port Phillip than in the back of the net.
Hanna Bennison steered the gunfight to sudden death. Naeher defeated Musovic with the fourth goal for the Americans. Magdalena Eriksson equalized shortly afterwards.
Subsequently, Kelley O’Hara, who had been brought in as a late substitute for these kicks, also fell victim to Musovic’s voodoo and saw her attempt clatter off the crossbar.
The game ended when Alyssa Naeher’s (above) attempt to stop a shot went over the line by millimeters
Lina Hurtig (8) took that shot and sank the USA after VAR determined the ball went over the line
It was the cap of an incredible evening from Musovic – who is now propelling Sweden to the quarter-finals
It all culminated in the moment of the game, when Naeher got a glove on Lina Hurtig’s attempt – but couldn’t avoid going less than a millimeter behind the goal line. A lengthy VAR check confirmed Sweden’s upset.
Sweden rushed to Musovic to celebrate – with Eriksson, who took over as captain halfway through the match, praising her keeper.
“It’s going to be historic,” Eriksson said. Finally she can prove what she can do on the biggest stage in the world. We all know she had this in her and now she could finally prove it.
‘I’m so happy right now. Happy and confused because I feel like I don’t know what happened. I can’t believe we succeeded. It was such a difficult game for us.
“We trusted a lot that (Mušović) would have a great game and we managed to take penalties and then we knew anything could happen.”