Rapinoe ends USWNT career with win over South Africa
USWNT veteran Megan Rapinoe ended her long soccer career Sunday with accolades and memorable wins in fitting fashion with a 2-0 victory over Banyana Banyana of South Africa.
The 38-year-old, two-time World Cup winner with the U.S., who ends her tenure on the national team with 63 goals, 73 assists and 203 caps, was honored before the game and then took to the pitch at Soldier Field in Chicago and helped her squad to a second friendly win in less than a week over South Africa.
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“It has been such an honor to be able to wear this shirt, play with all these players and live out my childhood dream,” said Rapinoe, who won the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and Ballon d’Or for her role in the U.S. 2019 World Cup campaign, at the end of the game.
“I know that I am a liked player,” she added. “And I know that I mean a lot to the game. But to have this night come and to actually feel it and see it from my teammates, from our staff and certainly from the fans, who have been such a huge part of our success on and off the field, really it was very special.”
Rising star Trinity Rodman opened the scoring for the U.S. in the first half with a nice finish and was quickly greeted by the veteran Rapinoe to help celebrate.
Rapinoe curved in a trademark corner kick ahead of the second goal of the night for the U.S., with Emily Sonnett heading past South Africa keeper Andile Dlamini after she had punched the ball away from the goal
With the U.S. leading 2-0 and 40 minutes left in the match, it was then full-time for Rapinoe, who was replaced by Midge Purce and treated to boisterous applause from the crowd and hugs from her teammates and coaches as she left the field.
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“It’s really hard for me because I’m losing, just, an idol,” teammate Lindsey Horan said after the match. “It’s hard. That’s what you’ve looked up to. It’s another reason why you fall in love with the game, those kinds of players that you watch on TV do those things. And you come in and now you’re training with them everyday? It’s freakin’ wild.”
With Julie Ertz playing her last game Wednesday and now Rapinoe calling it a career with the national team, the U.S. is phasing into a new era for the program. Earlier on Sunday, U.S. Soccer’s sporting director promised that the federation would announce a new head coach to lead the team which has interim manager Twila Kilgore currently at the helm by the end of the year.
Rapinoe’s final match came 17 years and 63 days after making her international debut on July 23, 2006. Only three players have had a longer USWNT career: Kristine Lilly (23 years, 94 days), Christie Pearce (18 years, 204 days) and Mia Hamm (17 years, 127 days).
South Africa can only count on the experience ganered in playing the double header friendlies that crowned the retirement of Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe otherwise it was poor show for the team as they conceeded five goals in the two games 3-0 in the first match Wednesday and two goals in Sunday’s outing.