The USWNT needed a bogus foul call to narrowly avoid its first loss in over 2 years

• The US Women's National Team nearly lost its first game in 2+ years.
• They trailed Sweden until defender Kelley O'Hara was fouled and earned a penalty kick for the US.
• Megan Rapinoe buried the shot to tie the game, but the refs undoubtedly shouldn't have given the PK.

The ever-dominant US Women's National Team narrowly avoided its first loss in more than two years this weekend.

But according to the tape, the USWNT's late-game equalizer was predicated on a bad call from referees and never should have happened.

The USWNT trailed Sweden - the European powerhouse that brutally knocked out the US in the 2016 Olympic quarterfinals - by a goal for nearly the entire second half of their Saturday afternoon friendly in Stockholm. But as the stars and stripes made a fervent offensive push in the final minutes of the contest, Sweden's Sofia Jakobsson tripped up USWNT defender Kelley O'Hara at the edge of the 18-yard box and was - rightfully - whistled for a foul.

But the referees apparently thought the illegal tackle took place inside the box, so they awarded the US a penalty kick in response to Jakobsson's offense. Replays of the incident, however, clearly show that the foul occurred outside of the box.

Let's take a closer look, shall we? Both O'Hara and Jakobsson have two feet outside of the penalty area when the foul takes place. Officials should have given the US a free kick rather than an unobstructed shot at the goalie from 12 yards out.

But without the ability to review the play, the call stood as a penalty kick. Megan Rapinoe - the USWNT's top finisher and most recognizable star - stepped up to the penalty spot with a chance to save the day for her team. Unsurprisingly, the pink-haired striker buried the shot, delivering a hard, low kick into the left corner of the net to tie the game in the 87th minute.

"We don't have [video review], so I'll take it," Rapinoe said after the game. "I'm not asking any questions."

-FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2021

Had she missed or the referees made the correct call, the No. 1-ranked USWNT likely would have suffered its first defeat since January 19, 2019, when the team lost 3-1 to France in a pre-World Cup friendly. Instead, they finished in a 1-1 draw, ending the USWNT's 16-game win streak that spanned at least two years.

Coincidentally, O'Hara, Rapinoe, and company are set to face the French in Le Havre on Tuesday for what should be yet another competitive contest for the USWNT.