The U.S. women’s national team moved to 19-0-1 under first-year coach Pia Sundhage when it defeated Sweden, 1-0, on a 39th-minute goal from midfielder Carli Lloyd to complete a sweep of two matches in Scandinavia.
The match was the first-ever meeting between the two teams in Sweden and also marked the first time Sundhage has coached against her home country.
Lloyd beat at least three Swedish defenders with stop-and-go moves, before gliding into the middle of the box and hitting a left-footed shot from 15 yards that skimmed off the leg of a Swedish defender and wrong-footed Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
Hope Solo and Nicole Barnhart split time in goal for the Americans’ fifth straight shutout.
“I thought it was a pretty interesting tactical battle and a physical game, especially in the midfield,” said Sundhage. “It was really good to play against Sweden as they are a great team and that is important when you go into the Olympics.”
In its final Olympic tuneups, the USA faces Brazil on July 13 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., and on July 16 at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego.
July 5 in Skelleftea
Sweden 0 USA 1. Goal: Lloyd 39.
Sweden — Lindah, Thunebro, Larsson (Segerstrom, 18), Rholin (Westberg, 53), Ostberg (Paulson, 69), Sjogran, Fischer, Landstrom (Almgren, 75), Seger (Dahlkvist, 69), Schelin (Ljungberg, 60), Svensson.
USA — Solo (Barnhart, 46), Mitts (Buehler, 46), Markgraf, Rampone, Chalupny, O’Reilly (Wagner, 81), Boxx, Lloyd, Tarpley (Hucles, 63), Kai (Rodriguez, 81), Wambach.
Referee: Kirsi Savolainen (Finland).
Att.: 4,313.