World champions USA got off to a false start in the Olympic women's soccer tournament.
The US team around star player Megan Rapinoe unexpectedly lost 3-0 (0-1) to third place in the World Cup, Sweden.
Stina Blackstenius (25th / 54th minute) and Lina Hurtig (72nd) scored for the 2016 Olympic runner-up. The four-time Olympic champion America, who had been unbeaten since January 2019 and had traveled to Japan as a top favorite, was completely disappointing.
The Swedes had already ended the US gold hunt at the summer games five years ago in the quarter-finals. In the final, the Scandinavians were defeated by Germany in Rio de Janeiro. The DFB selection had missed the qualification for the summer games in Tokyo. Before the kick-off, the players of both teams got on their knees to take a stand against racism.
In the opening game, Great Britain beat Chile in Group E with a brace from Ellen White with 2-0 (1-0).
Before the kick-off, both teams including the referee team made a strong statement against racism by dropping their knees.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had just lifted the long-standing ban on athletes' protests at the Olympic Games a few days ago.
Political statements at events, award ceremonies and in the Olympic Village are still taboo.
In Group F, Brazil celebrated a perfect start to the tournament in a 5-0 (2-0) win against China.
Old star Marta, who won Olympic silver with the South Americans in Athens in 2004, scored twice.