SKELLEFTEA, Sweden — Carli Lloyd scored on a deflected shot in the 39th minute yesterday to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Sweden in a women's Olympic tuneup.

Lloyd dribbled past three defenders inside the box, then fired a low left-footed shot that glanced off Sara Thunebro's leg and past goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

Natasha Kai, a Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i alum, started for the U.S., which improved to 19-0-1 this year, including a victory on penalty kicks over Canada in the final of CONCACAF Olympic qualifying.

Lloyd was grateful for her good fortune.

"Yeah, it was a deflection, but it's always exciting to score a goal," said Lloyd, who also scored in the Americans' 4-0 victory over Norway three days earlier. "I just wanted to help the team win."

The first match between the two countries in Sweden gave the Americans their 16th win in 25 meetings. Sweden has won five with four draws.

"Sweden has a great team; they played us tough," Lloyd said. "This game was very important. We're working towards the Olympics. We want to get that gold."

Sweden, ranked third by FIFA and among the Olympic favorites along with the defending champion United States, had two scoring chances late in the first half and another early in the second thwarted by goalkeeper Hope Solo.

Things got a bit hairy for the U.S. several minutes into the second half when Nicole Barnhart, who replaced Solo after halftime, punched a corner kick straight up in the air. The ball came down almost on the U.S. goal line, and with several players from each team hacking away at it, somehow the Americans managed to keep it from going over the goal line and cleared it out of danger.

"It's great for this team to get pressure when we are up a goal," said U.S. forward Abby Wambach. "To almost feel as though it's tied because you can't ever play for just a one goal win. We are never the team to do that."

The match was the first for Pia Sundhage as U.S. coach against her native country. She played for Sweden in two World Cups and one Olympics.

Sundhage said the result wasn't important.

"Of course you gain some confidence, but we (were) working on some tactical stuff," she said. "At halftime, it was nice to hear the players say they need to challenge themselves ..."

The U.S. plays Brazil on July 13 near Denver, and July 16 at San Diego before heading to China.