Sweden players zoom in on phone to see winning goal vs. USWNT

August 6, 2023

It was a call so close that even Sweden’s players needed to see it again to believe it.

After knocking off the United States in the Round of 16 in the World Cup on a penalty kick goal that crossed the line by millimeters, Sweden’s star players had to see it for themselves back in the locker room.

Images of the Swedes celebrating their upset win over the U.S. Women’s National Team early Sunday morning also showed them on their phones seeing just how close a call it was.

Some players even had to zoom in on their phones to see how the ball had just crossed the line on Lina Huryig’s game-winning shot.

It was ultimately the goal-line technology that determined the ball had crossed the line, securing the victory for Sweden and a gutwrenching loss for the USWNT.

Sweden players were also seen jumping on tables and singing after the match, according to the Daily Mail.

Sweden's women's national team celebrates in the locker room. — Sweden’s women’s national team celebrates in the locker room.

Players zoom in on the goal in disbelief.

Huryig’s shot looked as though it had been saved after US keeper Alyssa Naeher made a diving stop and then swatted the ball away in time after the initial save popped into the air toward the line.

As both sides made their case to the official, they turned to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to make the deciding call.

“I thought I had it,” Naeher told Fox Sports of the shot. “Unfortunately, it just slipped in. That’s a tough one.”

FIFA — Sweden players celebrate the team’s victory through the penalty shootout.

Lina Hurtig of Sweden (R) celebrates with her teammates after winning USA during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia — Lina Hurtig of Sweden (R) celebrates with her teammates after winning USA during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia

The U.S. had chances to eliminate Sweden earlier in penalty kicks, but Kelley O’Hara hit the right post in the seventh round, and Megan Rapinoe missed a shot by a mile.

Sweden will play Japan in the next round.

Goalkeeper Zecira Musovic was still processing the win when she addressed reporters after the match.

World Cup — Players of Sweden look at a mobile phone in the dressing room, which displays the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) goal-line technology decision for the seventh penalty kick scored by Lina Hurtig of Sweden.

“I’m at a loss for words,” she said, according to the Daily Mail. “I don’t know what to say except that I am extremely proud that we persevered against an extremely strong U.S. that pressed for 120 minutes. We’re not going home yet.

“We know what we are capable of. We knew that we were facing a really good team and needed to put in a good performance, which we did.”