Hurtig's penalty sends Sweden into quarter-finals

Lina Hurtig netted the winning penalty as Sweden knocked holders USA out of the Women’s World Cup after a shootout to progress to the quarter-finals.

The two teams drew 0-0 in Melbourne after 120 minutes of action, with Stina Blackstenius and Amanda Illestedt named in the starting line-up. A fine goalkeeping performance by Zecira Musovic managed to keep the 2015 and 2019 champions at bay, as she made 11 saves in the contest.

Lina added to the fray on 82 minutes, while Stina was withdrawn just before half-time in extra-time, as the game went to a shootout. After the first five penalties were scored, the next four were all missed before Henna Bennison scored to force sudden death.

After Kelly O'Hara missed for the US, Lina stepped up and scored in dramatic circumstances as her kick was saved by Alyssa Naeher but the ball looped up and crossed the line, which was confirmed by VAR, allowing our trio of Swedes to celebrate making it to the final four, where they will face Japan on Friday.

Stina, Lina and Amanda joined Victoria Pelova in the quarters, after she helped the Netherlands reach the quarter-finals after beating South Africa 2-0 in Sydney.

Our midfielder played 89 minutes of the fixture as the Dutch moved into the last eight, as they aim to go one step further than they did four years ago when they finished runners-up in the 2019 competition.

A goal from new Manchester City recruit Jill Roord after just eight minutes put Victoria’s team in control, and it looked as though Victoria had grabbed an assist nine minutes into the second half when she teed up Lieke Martens but was adjudged to have been offside by VAR.

Despite a valiant effort from Banyana Banyana, a strike from Lineth Beerensteyn on 68 minutes took the game away from them, and handed the Netherlands a meeting with Spain in Wellington on Friday.

However they’ll have to try and progress into the semi-finals without former Gunners Danielle van de Donk through suspension.