WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Meghan Klingenberg — not Hope Solo — made the biggest save of the night for the United States.
Klingenberg, a diminutive defender, leaped to head a shot by Sweden’s Caroline Seger. The ball hit the crossbar and caromed away from the goal.
Goal-line technology was used to confirm the ball never crossed the line.
The save in the 77th minute preserved the 0-0 draw with Sweden on Friday night in one of the most anticipated group-stage matches at the Women’s World Cup.
“Brilliant,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said of Klingenberg’s heroics. “Believe it or not, we actually practice that.”
The match had been hyped beforehand as the showdown between the second-ranked United States and former coach Pia Sundhage, now coach of No. 5 Sweden. It did not disappoint in the furious second half.
Abby Wambach came off the bench, but her header in the 72nd minute was popped up and over the crossbar by Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
A win would have assured the United States a spot in the knockout round as the Americans seek their third World Cup title but first since 1999. The U.S. women advanced to the final four years ago in Germany but lost to Japan on penalty kicks.
The United States has one more group stage match, Tuesday in Vancouver, British Columbia, against Nigeria. Sweden heads to Edmonton, Alberta, for its final group match with Australia.
The monthlong tournament, with an expanded field of 24 teams, is being played in six Canadian cities.
The U.S. leads the Group D standings with four points, following a 3-1 victory over No. 10 Australia in the opener. Sweden was surprised in its opener by No. 33 Nigeria, which erased a 2-0 halftime deficit for a 3-all tie.
Earlier Friday the Matildas defeated Nigeria 2-0.
Ellis tinkered with her lineup for the match against Sweden, starting 22-year old Morgan Brian while Wambach was on the bench.
Wambach did give the U.S. a spark after entering in the 68th minute but couldn’t get past Lindahl, who was named player of the match.
Klingenberg, who is just 5-foot-2, saved Seger’s shot while Solo was on the other side of the goal.
“That was something we practiced this week,” Klingenberg said. “I know that when Hope slides across, I need to tuck in and make sure I’m in position. Luckily I did, and I was able to make the play when I needed to.”
Wrapup
Switzerland cruises in rout of ecuador
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Fabienne Humm and Ramona Bachmann both had second-half hat tricks as Switzerland earned its first women’s World Cup victory with a 10-1 triumph over Ecuador on Friday.
Humm’s three goals came within six minutes early in the second half, the first coming on a strike from outside the penalty box in the 47th minute to put Switzerland up 3-0. Bachmann capped her scoring binge in the 81st minute for Switzerland’s 10th goal.
Friday’s highlights
Kyah Simon scored twice to lead Australia to a 2-0 victory over Nigeria in a group stage match. Simon beat Nigeria goalkeeper Precious Dede on a feed from Lisa De Vanna to put the Matildas up 1-0 in the 29th minute. She then found herself unguarded in the front of the goal to put away Samantha Kerr’s arcing cross in the 68th minute.
Australia, ranked No. 10 in the world, fell 3-1 to the second-ranked United States in its Group D opener.
