News » pass found Dowd low in the left faceoff circle.Faksa tied the ga

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Cowardly or not, Swedens defensive strategy against the United States got the job done.The Swedes stymied the powerful American attack and advanced to the womens soccer semifinals at the Olympics, leaving the U.S. team empty-handed and with their earliest exit from a major tournament.Thats the best team in the world. But for once they didnt go the whole way through, Sweden coach Pia Sundhage said. They played more attacking football than we did. We defended very well. And the fact that it went to penalty kicks says something about our defending.Sundhage certainly knows the U.S. team. After all, she coached the Americans for five years and won gold medals at the Beijing and London Olympics. Current U.S. coach Jill Ellis was her assistant.The three-time defending champion United States had been the clear favorites in Brazil to become the first team to win an Olympic gold following a Womens World Cup title.After the loss, the attention fell on U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo for comments she made about Swedens tactics to go on the defensive, saying she thought they were a bunch of cowards.We had that style of play when Pia was our coach. I dont think theyre going to make it far in the tournament. I think it was very cowardly, Solo said. But, they won. Theyre moving on. And were going home.While the park the bus strategy is often debated in soccer, Ellis simply drew the inevitable conclusion that it was successful.The game is the game, so I think tactically thats the coachs prerogative, the coachs choice, Ellis said. They look at their personnel and they determine a game plan based on that. And I think to take us to penalty kicks is probably a good strategy, because then it becomes a crapshoot, right?Can I criticize or knock someone for their tactics? No, thats their choice.On Saturday, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati told Sports Illustrated that Solos remarks were highly inappropriate and not in line with the expectations of U.S. Soccer or the ideals of the Olympic movement.At a news briefing in Rio de Janeiro, IOC spokesman Mark Adams described Solos outburst as disappointing. However, he added that people are free to say those things. We wouldnt stop their right to express themselves, within boundaries, obviously.Lost in all the postgame drama was the spectacular play of Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who plays club soccer for Chelsea. The 33-year-old national team veteran turned away six shots on goal before prevailing in the shootout.Youve got to be pumped if you win against the world champions. Just playing against the U.S. on paper you think, `Oh my God, this is going to demand something special from me, Lindahl said. I think its something that happens automatically, you get really inspired and focused. It brings out the best of me, at least, when I play against the U.S.Sweden had only beaten the United States five times before Fridays quarterfinal meeting, which the team won 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.The Swedes, who won bronze in 2004, face a considerable challenge in their next match against host Brazil and the countrys star player, Marta. The Brazilians defeated Australia on penalties.In the group stage, Brazil beat Sweden 5-1. Marta scored twice in that game, but more defensive tactics could be coming from Sweden.You always have to take into account the opponents, Sundhage said. We played against the world champions, so thats one reason we chose to play the way we did. Under Armour Shoes Uk Sale . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Wholesale Under Armour Uk . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. http://www.underarmourukoutlet.com/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Under Armour Outlet Uk . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Under Armour Clearance Uk . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. DALLAS -- Alec Martinez, who saw one apparent goal disallowed, scored 1:20 into overtime as Los Angeles Kings beat the Dallas Stars 4-3 on Thursday night.Martinezs wrist shot from the slot went past a screen by Tanner Pearson to beat Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen.(Tyler Toffoli) made a really good play to me in the slot. (Pearson) was in front with a good screen, Martinez said. All I had to do was really hit the net.Martinezs second-period drive from the left point was ruled no goal because a teammate was in the paint in front of Lehtonen.Stars coach Lindy Ruff thought the overtime goal shouldnt have counted either.I think its a terrible call at the end of the game. I thought our goaltender was interfered with. He was elbowed in the head before the puck went in the net, he said. I respectfully and disrespectfully disagree with that. They look at it for five seconds, and they call it a good goal.The Kings had lost their first three games. Dallas fell to 2-1-1.Thats pretty much the way we played for other than one period this season except we got a break to win, Kings coach Darryl Sutter said.Dallas Jason Spezza tied the game at 3 with 2:07 left in regulation with a shot from the left faceoff circle that beat Kings goalie Peter Budaj.It would have been a feel-good win for us if we could have pulled it out in overtime, Spezza said. Probably makes it a little more frustrating.Los Angeles Nic Dowd scored the games first goal, the first of his eight-game NHL career, on the power play in the first period.The Kings took a one-goal lead twice more during a second period that included two fights and 10 penalties for 34 minutes. Jeff Carter and Pearson scored and assisted on each others goal.Goals by Dallas Radek Faksa and Jamie Benn had tied the game.Lehtonen made 35 saves. Budaj had 17 in his first NHL win sincee Feb.dddddddddddd 12.The Kings had been struggling since losing starting goalie Jonathan Quick in the opening game.This wasnt us, starting 0-3, Budaj said. We definitely showed today in a hot building against a very good team we came out hard. We outshoot them and we played a real strong defensive game. It was great to see the guys have that desperation.Martinez had an assist on Carters goal.Spezza had a goal and an assist, and teammate Tyler Seguin assisted twice.To set up Dowds goal at 8:18 of the first period, Dustin Brown passed from the left side to Tom Gilbert on the right. His pass found Dowd low in the left faceoff circle.Faksa tied the game at 11:40. With Budaj out of the net, Spezza corralled the puck behind the goal line and passed out to Faksa in the right circle.Carter scored from the top of the slot at 1:24 of the second period.Benn tied the game again at 2 with a shot into the upper left corner from the left circle at 5:00.Each team killed four minutes of penalties in the second period. Los Angeles outshot the Stars 18-7 in the second.Game notes Dallas lost two wings to injury in the second period: Patrick Sharp with concussion-like symptoms and Patrick Eaves with a lower-body injury. Ruff indicated that Sharp could miss more time. ... Los Angeles D Brayden McNabb was involved in both second-period fights. Stars LW Antoine Roussel received 16 penalty minutes for his role in the first altercation, and totaled 18 minutes for the game. He had 565 PIM in his first 3 1/2 seasons but none in the first three games this season.UP NEXT:Kings: Return home to play Vancouver on Saturday.Stars: Play the second game of a three-game homestand on Saturday against Columbus. ' ' '