Sweden

The U.S. women will face Sweden on Nov. 19 in a rematch of the group-stage loss that set the stage for the Americans' dramatic run to the Women's World Cup final. The exhibition in Glendale, Ariz., is part of the Americans' preparations for Olympic qualifying. The qualifying will be held Jan. 19-29 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Americans are 18-5-7 against Sweden but 0-2 this year. Abby Wambach made the most of her last match before a little rest and relaxation.

The body of a man found Friday outside the Church of St. Asaph in Bala Cynwyd was that of the Philadelphia photographer Johnathan F. Zellars, police, his minister, and the Montgomery County coroner said. Zellars, 62, was found dead Friday morning by the sexton in a car parked on the grounds of the church on Conshohocken State Road in Lower Merion Township. Montgomery County Coroner Walter I. Hofman attributed the death to natural causes, likely brought on by a medical condition.

FRANKFURT, Germany - Homare Sawa made up for a huge error by scoring the go-ahead goal, and Japan advanced to the World Cup final with a 3-1 victory over Sweden yesterday. Surprise call-up Nahomi Kawasumi had two goals for Japan, which will face the United States in Sunday's championship. It's the first World Cup final for the rising soccer power. Josefine Oqvist scored for Sweden, which allowed three unanswered goals. In a battle of Japan's fine skills against the thrust and hustle of Sweden, the match turned in the second half when Kawasumi caught Hedvig Lindahl off her line and lobbed it over her from about 110 feet away for the final score, one of the best in a tournament full of excellent strikes.

AUGSBURG, Germany - Lotta Schelin scored one goal and set up another Sunday as Sweden beat Australia, 3-1, to reach the semifinals at the women's World Cup. After setting up Therese Sjogran for the opening goal in the 11th minute, Schelin pushed the lead to 3-1 in the 52d to set off the players' traditional Swedish dancing celebrations. The result means Sweden also qualifies for the London Olympics next year. Japan upset host Germany in a quarterfinal on Saturday and will play Sweden on Wednesday.

Lisa Dahlkvist converted a penalty, Nilla Fischer scored on a free kick and Sweden beat the Americans for the first time in World Cup play last night in Germany, a 2-1 victory that forces the United States to play Brazil in the quarterfinals. Abby Wambach got the Americans back in the game in the 67th minute with her first goal of the tournament. But just as they have all year, the Americans squandered many other chances to score. It's the fourth loss since November for the world's No. 1 team after going more than 2 years without a defeat, and their second to Sweden this year.

WOLFSBURG, Germany - Lisa Dahlkvist converted a penalty, Nilla Fischer scored on a free kick, and Sweden beat the Americans for the first time in World Cup play on Wednesday night, a 2-1 victory that forces the United States to play Brazil in the quarterfinals. Abby Wambach got the Americans back in the game in the 67th minute with her first goal of the tournament. But just as they have all year, the Americans squandered many other chances to score. It's the fourth loss since November for the world's No. 1 team after going more than two years without a defeat, and their second to Sweden this year.

WOLFSBURG, Germany - Lisa Dahlkvist converted a penalty and Nilla Fischer scored from a deflected free kick Wednesday as Sweden won 2-1 to beat the Americans for the first time at the World Cup. Abby Wambach's first goal of the tournament in the 67th minute helped the Americans back in the game. But just as they have all year, they squandered many other chances to score. It's the fourth loss since November for the world's No. 1 team after going more than two years without a defeat, and their second to Sweden this year.

The United States backed up its No. 1 ranking Saturday, advancing to the Women's World Cup quarterfinals with a convincing, 3-0 victory over Colombia on goals from Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, and Carli Lloyd in Sinsheim, Germany. The two-time World Cup champions will meet Sweden, which earlier beat North Korea, 1-0, on Wednesday in Wolfsburg to determine the Group C winner. "I'm just really proud of this team," O'Reilly said. "I think we did some great stuff today. " In a first week which has seen plenty of good goals, O'Reilly's was one to remember for its sheer force, which left goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda helpless as the ball flew past her. It brought the sellout crowd of 25,475, including many Americans from nearby military facilities, to its feet.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany - Jessica Landstrom scored to give Sweden a labored, 1-0 win over Colombia on a sweltering day at the Women's World Cup on Tuesday. Colombia reserve goalkeeper Yineth Varon failed a drug test taken on Saturday and was suspended before the match. Sweden kept Colombia's 17-year-old star, Yoreli Rincon, in check, but her coach, Ricardo Rozo, said he expects her to have an impact in the tourney. He refused to comment on Varon's suspension.  

LEVERKUSEN, Germany - Jessica Landstrom scored in Sweden's labored, 1-0 win over Colombia in hot conditions at the Women's World Cup yesterday. Landstrom scored from close range in the 57th minute, set up by a fine cross from Lotta Schelin on the right wing. "We won our opening match. It's been a while since that last happened," Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby said. Colombia, playing in its first World Cup game, had a player suspended before the match when reserve goalkeeper Yineth Varon failed a drug test taken on Saturday.