Two more last-16 clashes took place at the Women’s World Cup on Monday.
Spain faced the United states, while Sweden went head-to-head with Canada. Check out what happened below!
Spain 1-2 United States
Megan Rapinoe scored two penalties as the United States progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 win over Spain in Reims.
Rapinoe scored from the spot in both halves, either side of an equaliser for Jennifer Hermoso, to keep alive American hopes of a fourth World Cup title.
But this was far from the straightforward victory many would have predicted as Spain provided a stern test of the defending champions.
Spain were the first to threaten, less than a minute in, with Becky Sauerbrann getting her head in the way to block Patri Guijarro’s powerful shot.
Moments later, the States had their first penalty as Mario Leon caught Tobin Heath inside the box and Rapinoe sent Sandra Panos the wrong way with a shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net in the fifth minute.
But Spain quickly responded, punishing a defensive howler at the back. Sauerbrann was dispossessed by Lucia Garcia after an unwanted short pass from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, and when the ball fell for Hermoso she lifted a fine shot into the right corner of the net.
Rapinoe almost had the Americans straight back in front when she met a sweeping ball from Alex Morgan, but they soon learned they would be made to work hard by a Spanish team that grew in confidence as the game went on.
The pressure began to build again early in the second half but Rose Lavelle sent the best chance narrowly over the crossbar.
Instead, the States would need another spot-kick, their second coming when Virginia Torrecilla caught Lavelle in the box.
Morgan initially stepped forward, looking for a sixth goal that would put her clear in the tournament scoring charts.
But, after a lengthy video review which led to a six-minute stoppage in play, it was Rapinoe that took responsibility.
Panos guessed right this time as Rapinoe picked the same spot, but the result was the same with the goalkeeper unable to get down in time.
Rapinoe was in the mood for a hat-trick. Out on the left, she hit an audacious effort with the outside of her right boot and watched it sail narrowly wide of the far post from a tight angle.
A third would have been harsh on Spain, whose performance will have been noted by those aiming to dethrone the Americans.
Sweden 1-0 Canada
Stina Blackstenius booked Sweden’s place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup – but they needed a penalty save from Hedvig Lindahl to edge out Canada 1-0 in Paris.
A slow-burner of a game finally came to life in the second half, with Kosovare Asllani at the heart of it.
It was the former Manchester City midfielder who raced downfield and played an inch-perfect pass for Blackstenius to open the scoring – with the game’s first shot on target just shy of the hour mark.
But it was also Asllani who was penalised for handball eight minutes later, before Lindahl denied Janine Beckie from the spot.
The crowd had taken to Mexican waves to entertain themselves during a dismal opening 45 minutes but there were plenty of talking points after the break.
Canada were the first to finally have a shot, with Christine Sinclair bending a free-kick wide in the 53rd minute.
But Sweden broke the deadlock just before the hour as Asllani charged down the left before sliding the ball across for the on-running Blackstenius to chip it over Stephanie Labbe.
That brought Canada to life and they had their chance with a little over 20 minutes to go when Desiree Scott’s shot struck Asllani on the arm from point-blank range.
Beckie stepped up and struck her penalty well, but not well enough to beat the quick dive of Lindahl, who was soon swamped by team-mates.
Sweden then thought they had a penalty of their own when Ashley Lawrence went through the back of Fridolina Rolfo but VAR determined there was an offside in the build-up.
The decision offered Canada some hope, though they rarely looked likely to capitalise as Adriana Leon and Shelina Zadorsky squandered late chances.
