U.S. women’s soccer stunned in 3-0 loss to Sweden

TOKYO — Two goals from Stina Blackstenius, one in each half, lifted Sweden to a 3-0 win over the reigning world champion United States on the first day of group play in women’s soccer at the Tokyo Olympics.

The loss snapped a 44-game unbeaten streak for the U.S. and ended a more modest one for new coach Vlatko Andonovski, who went 22-0-1 in his first 23 games, the lone draw coming against Sweden.

U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made four sprawling saves in the opening 24 minutes before a well-marked Blackstenius finally beat her, stepping in front of defender Abby Dahlkemper to nod home a perfect right-footed Sofia Jakobsson cross from the edge of the penalty area.

It was the first goal the U.S. had allowed in seven games and 592 minutes — or since the last time it played Sweden — and was just the second score the Americans have conceded in 16 months.

But it wouldn’t be the last with Blackstenius doubling the lead in the 54th minute, pouncing on a corner kick that had struck the far post and using her left foot to bury it into the top netting.

When second-half substitute Lina Hurtig added her goal in the 72nd minute, it marked the first time the U.S. had given up three goals since a 5-3 win over Australia in April 2019.

The U.S. tested Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl five times with the left goalpost stopping its two best chances: on a Rose Lavelle header in the final minute of a first half and a close-range shot from Christen Press midway through the second half.

Sweden, a semifinalist in the last Women’s World Cup and the No. 5 team in the world, eliminated the top-ranked U.S. from the 2016 Rio Games in the quarterfinals, the only time the top-ranked U.S. failed to reach the gold medal game of an Olympic tournament. The situation isn’t nearly as dire this time since the Americans have two more group-play games — against New Zealand and Australia — to reach the knockout stage.

The top two teams in each of the three groups, plus the two best third-place finishers, advance to the quarterfinals.