USATODAYMELBOURNE,Australia–Thiswasn’tthedemiseoftheU.S.women’snationalteamdynasty.Historywillrecorditassuch,ofcourse.Thetwo-timedefendingcham-pionsmakingtheirearliestexiteveratamajortournament,eliminated5-4onpenaltykicksbyoldfoeSwedenonSundaynight.Bythemostminusculeofmargins,noless,afteragametheyshouldhavewonoutrightlongbefore.Intruth,though,thisendwasmonths,yearseven,inthemaking.TraceitbacktotheinjuryinAprilofMallorySwanson,whohadsingle-handedlybeencarryingtheteam.OrtheinjurylastyeartoCatarinaMacario,whosewizardrywiththeballisbothNancyArmourColumnistUSATODAYSeeARMOUR,Page5AU.S.playersdefenderNaomiGirma(4),forwardSophiaSmith(11),forwardLynnWilliams(6)...
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