Goalkeeper Solo blasts Sweden ‘cowards’ as USA women bow out

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Outspoken USA women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo labelled Sweden “cowards” after the world champions’ bid for a fourth straight Olympic gold ended in quarter-final defeat Friday. Sweden progressed to their first ever Olympics semi-final 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Brasilia as Sweden coach Pia Sundhage ousted the US team she led to gold in 2008 and 2012. “We played a bunch of cowards,” Solo told Sports Illustrated. “The better team did not win today. I strongly believe that. I think you saw American heart. You saw us give everything we had today.” Star

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Sweden progressed to their first ever Olympics semi-final 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Brasilia as Sweden coach Pia Sundhage ousted the US team she led to gold in 2008 and 2012.

“We played a bunch of cowards,” Solo told Sports Illustrated.

“The better team did not win today. I strongly believe that. I think you saw American heart. You saw us give everything we had today.”

Star striker Alex Morgan and substitute Christen Press missed penalties before Lisa Dahlkvist converted the winning spot-kick despite Solo’s best efforts to put her off by changing gloves to delay Dahlkvist’s effort.

Sweden will now face either hosts Brazil, who thrashed them 5-1 in the group stages, or Australia in Tuesday’s semi-final in Rio.

“I don’t think they’re going to make it far in the tournament. I think it was very cowardly,” added Solo.

“But they won. They’re moving on, and we’re going home.”

Defeat is the Americans’ first in 15 games at the Olympics and only their third ever in Games history having won four golds and a silver since women’s football was introduced to the Olympic programme.

Morgan looked to have saved America’s blushes when she swooped 13 minutes from the end of normal time to cancel out Stina Blackstenius’s opener just after the hour mark.

But the world’s number one ranked side failed to break down Sundhage’s well-organised Swedes in extra-time, who also had a perfectly good goal from Lotta Schelin wrongly ruled out for offside in the final minutes.

“They didn’t try and press. They didn’t want to open the game and they tried to counter with long balls,” continued Solo.

“We had that style of play when Pia was our coach.”

Solo’s Games has been dogged by controversy as she received chants of “Zika” from fans across Brazil.

Last month the 35-year-old posted a picture of herself with a mosquito net over her head and a huge bottle of insect repellent in hand with the message: “Not sharing this!!! Get your own! #Zikaproof #Road to Rio” on her Twitter account.

Germany also booked their place in the last four on Friday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over China in Salvador.

Melanie Behringer netted the winner 14 minutes from time after Chinese substitute Wang Shanshan was sent-off for two quickfire yellow cards.

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