October 27, (THEWILL) – There was a loud and heartwarming standing ovation for US women’s Carli Lloyd as she exited the field for the final time in her international career as the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) poured on the goals late in a 6-0 win over South Korea on Tuesday.
Lloyd went off in the 66th minute without scoring, but the supporters did not let that douse their appreciation of her contribution and the significance of her retirement.
During the substitution, which coach Vlatko Andonovski said was planned, the crowd of 18,115 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, rose and cheered for many minutes. Lloyd removed her boots on the field, hugged teammates, and presented the captain’s armband to Megan Rapinoe before addressing the audience.
She then removed her soccer jersey to expose a second one with the name “Hollins,” her married name, which she uses outside of soccer. Lloyd returned to the bench after a final wave to the crowd and greeted teammates and coaches before seeing the US score four goals in the closing 24 minutes.
Soon after coming on, Morgan scored to make it 3-0, then Rapinoe (85th), Rose Lavelle (89th), and Lynn Williams (second minute of stoppage time) each added goals to seal the victory. Lindsey Horan scored the game’s first goal in the ninth minute, and Andi Sullivan’s 45th-minute header off a corner kick resulted in an own-goal to make it 2-0.
The triumph came after the United States drew 0-0 with South Korea on Thursday, their first stalemate since losing 1-0 to Canada in the Tokyo Olympics earlier in the summer.
Commenting on her final game, Lloyd said: “It’s been better than I ever imagined. It’s been emotional. But there’s just a sense of peace and content that I feel. It’s just joy, happiness. It’s been an amazing journey. I gave it all I had, and now I can walk away into the next chapter.
“I was really happy that we ended on a win, so thank you to my teammates for that one. I want to thank all of you fans for the support. It really means the world to me. The doubters, the critics, everybody. I love you all. You’ve pushed me to greater and greater heights throughout my career, and I’m forever thankful for that,” she added.
In his own remarks, coach Andonovski said, “Somebody said that Carli is the U.S. women’s national team — she’s brave, she’s relentless, she’s determined, intense. She doesn’t take no as an answer. You know she just pushes through and will find a way.”
Lloyd, who scored 134 goals in 316 international appearances, was also recognised with a commemorative film following the game. Fans chanted “Thank you, Carli” as she reached for the microphone to speak.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
