The US Women's National Team, who began 2011 the same they ended 2010 -- on top of the FIFA women's world soccer rankings -- lost the opening game of their season Friday to Sweden 2-1 at the Four Nations Tournament in Chongong, China.
Carli Lloyd gave the US their lone goal in the 11th minute off an assist from Lauren Cheney, but Sweden countered five minutes later as Therese Sjogran fired off a pass to Stina Segerstrom to eventually end the first tie in a 1-1 draw.
With an assist from Lina Nilsson in the 61st minute, Chicago Red Stars player Kosovare Asllani scored the game-winning goal for Sweden.
It was the seventh time since the end of the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup -- and the first time in over seven years overall -- that the USWNT lost a game in which they took the opening lead.
Both countries are scheduled to meet again June 6 in Wolfsburg, Germany in Group C pool play at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, but could face off even earlier -- in March at the Algarve Cup tournament in Portugal.
The US faces Canada in the next round of the round-robin tournament Sunday, then meets host country China.
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