Christen Press reacts after Sweden scores its third goal of the Tokyo Olympics opener.
Christen Press reacts after Sweden scores its third goal of the Tokyo Olympics opener.
AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
  • The US Women's National Team fell apart in its Tokyo Olympics opener.
  • The reigning World Cup champions lost 3-0 to Sweden, breaking a 44-game unbeaten streak.
  • Though the USWNT hasn't been eliminated from the games, its path to gold just became much tougher.
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The normally-dominant US Women's National Team lost for the first time since January of 2019.

The reigning World Cup champions and top-ranked national team on the planet faltered against Sweden in their opening game of the Tokyo Olympics, dropping a brutal 3-0 loss against the same team that ousted them from the Rio Olympics some five years ago.

Megan Rapinoe.
Megan Rapinoe.
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

With the loss – the first of head coach Vlatko Andonovski's tenure with the team – the Americans broke their 44-game unbeaten streak and severely decreased their chances of winning gold at the games.

Sweden was dominant from the opening kickoff, creating multiple quick chances and forcing the ball into the USWNT's defensive third. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher managed to ward off an early deficit with a number of key saves, but the Swedes finally broke through in the 25th minute via a stunning header from 25-year-old forward Stina Blackstenius.

The Americans looked rattled heading into the locker room at halftime, though the Swedes could have further increased their lead had they converted on multiple promising opportunities in the first 45 minutes.

Andonovski's squad returned to the pitch with two adjustments: Carli Lloyd in for Alex Morgan up top and Julie Ertz anchoring the midfield for the first time since suffering a knee injury in the spring.

The changes weren't enough, and Blackstenius wasn't finished tormenting the USWNT. She found the back of the net in the 54th minute with a left-footed volley after a teammate's header ricocheted off the far post.

Blackstenius left the game shortly thereafter, but her substitute - Lina Hurtig - added insult to injury for the stars and stripes. Hanna Glas made a stunning run up the right flank to deliver a cross right to the top of the six-yard box, where a loosely-guarded Hurtig rose up for a header that soared past Naeher's outstretched hand and into the goal.

Though the USWNT hasn't been eliminated from the tournament, the team's path to victory became a whole lot narrower following the 3-0 shutout. The Americans will need to finish first or second in the four-team Group G - which features New Zealand and a formidable Australian side in addition to their Olympics Achilles' heel in Sweden - in order to advance to the knock-out stage.

They'll have three days to recover before taking the pitch for a Saturday-morning matchup against the Kiwis. Then, on Tuesday, the USWNT will face international superstar Sam Kerr and her Matildas for what promises to be a decisive final match in the group round.

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