In pictures: Penalties take center stage as USA, Sweden progress to quarters
USA cruised to a 2-1 victory over Spain, thanks to two spot shots by skipper Megan Rapinoe. A curling goal from Jennifer Hermoso wasn't enough to help Spain win. Meanwhile, Sweden crawled to a 1-0 victory over Canada in a very slow-paced game at Paris, courtesy an laboured effort by Stina Blackstenius . A missed penalty by Janine Beckie cost Canada the chance to equalise, therefore knocking it out of the tournament.
Megan Rapinoe netted two spot-kicks to take USA through to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup. USA will take on France on Friday. ▲
USA's defense got its first real test of the tournament in this game against Spain. Sloppy defense allowed Spain's Jennifer Hermoso to deposit a shot in the top right corner to equalise the score. ▲
USA's skipper Megan Rapinoe was in the thick of all the action on Monday as she scored twice for her side. She was also involved in an odd slap-foul with Spain's Marta Corredera and was immediately booked by the referee. She was seen talking to Marta and shaking hands after. ▲
Sweden booked its place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Canada thanks to a goal from Blackstenius. Canada pushed forward in search of an equaliser and it was awarded a penalty after the ball struck the outstretched arm of Asllani. However, Beckie saw her penalty saved by Lindahl and that's the closest Canada came to getting back into the game. Sweden will now face Germany in the quarterfinals on Saturday, ▲
Canada's forward Janine Beckie missed a penalty shot in the knockout game against Sweden in the Women's World Cup 2019 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. A goal would have changed the course of the game, perhaps. ▲
While Canada has progressed to the last-eight on two occasions - beating China 1-0 in the 2003 quarterfinal and Switzerland 1-0 in the last-16 in 2015 - it has struggled against European oppositions. In its 13 previous meetings with European nations, Canada has lost 11 matches, drawing one and sealing just one. This game adds to this abysmal record. ▲
