ST. PAUL, Minn. (Oct. 26, 2021) – The U.S. Women’s National Team put on a spectacular performance while scoring twice in the first half and four times in the second to defeat the Korea Republic 6-0 in the final international match for USWNT legend Carli Lloyd.
The crowd of 18,115 fans were treated to 90 minutes of exciting attacking play and rewarded for their enthusiasm with three goals in the final five minutes plus stoppage time. The convincing win started with a pre-game honor for Lloyd and finished with an emotional on-field ceremony in which she addressed the crowd and thanked her teammates, U.S. Soccer staff, family and all those who have helped her on her journey.
The legendary midfielder-turned-forward ended her prestigious career as the second-most capped player in world soccer history with 316 games played. Lloyd’s 134 international goals rank third in USWNT history and fourth all-time in world history, while the 39-year-old also ends her international career tied for fifth in USWNT history with 64 assists.
When Lloyd’s number came up on the substitution board in the 66th minute, she unlaced her boots, took them off and hugged each of her teammates before leaving to a standing ovation. Just before she exited the field, she peeled off her #10 Lloyd jersey to reveal another jersey underneath, this one with her married name -- Hollins -- on the back, and officially ended her 17-year international career.
Lloyd ends one of the most decorated careers in soccer history with two FIFA Women’s World Cup championships (2015, 2019), two Olympic Gold medals (2008, 2012), and two FIFA World Player of the Year honors (2016, 2017). The USA captain is the oldest goal scorer in team history and currently leads the side in both goals (11) and assists (6) in 2021.
The USA started a lineup of Lloyd – and the 10 youngest players on this roster – and the youngsters did not disappoint, foreshadowing some positive things for the future with dynamic attacking play and lock-down defense.
After drawing 0-0 with the Korea Republic on Oct. 21 in a match that could and should have featured multiple goals for the USA, the Americans turned its chances into goals on this Tuesday night, outshooting its opponent 29-2 to send Lloyd out in style.
The USA opened its account in the ninth minute as midfielder Lindsey Horan scored off a deflected shot from the top of the box and USA doubled the lead just before the halftime break off a corner kick that was bundled into the goal by a Korean defender.
After Lloyd departed, and with veteran forwards Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath now on the field, the USA piled on four more goals, starting with a strike from Morgan in the 69th minute off a brilliant pass from Rapinoe, who added a goal of her own with a powerful half-volley from inside the box in the 85th minute. The USWNT added two more goals late in the match as midfielder Rose Lavelle – who was also a second half sub -- ran onto a lobbed ball through ball from Morgan in the 89th minute and tucked her shot into the lower left corner. Forward Lynn Williams capped the scoring in stoppage time after a display of fancy footwork from Heath unlocked the defense.
With the result, the USWNT extends its unbeaten home streak to 62 matches.
U.S. Soccer is currently working on finalizing a November trip to Australia for the USWNT that would feature two matches in and around Sydney on Nov. 27 and 30 that would be played under strict COVID-19 protocols, provided proper approvals from the Australia government are in place to allow the U.S. team to enter the country and train and play in a highly controlled environment. More information on the possible confirmation of these matches will hopefully be available soon.
USA – Lindsey Horan (Sophia Smith), 9th minute: Smith controlled a long ball on the right flank and dribbled toward the end line before finding Horan at the top of the box. Horan dribbled centrally and smacked a left-footed shot that deflected off a defender and looped into the net to open the scoring. USA 1, KOR 0
USA – Sohyun CHO (Own Goal), 45th minute: A corner kick from the left side from midfielder Catarina Macario was redirected off the head of midfielder Andi Sullivan’s, deflected off Cho and bounced into the net to double the lead. USA 2, KOR 0
USA – Alex Morgan (Megan Rapinoe), 69th minute: Rapinoe collected the ball in the attacking third and glided down the left flank before sending a perfectly-weighted pass with the outside of her right foot into the path of the streaking Morgan, who had timed her run perfectly to get behind the defense. Morgan then unleased a left-footed shot that sailed through the goalkeeper’s legs. USA 3, KOR 0
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Emily Sonnett), 85th minute: As the USA attacked in waves, Sonnett sent a cross into the box from the right flank and Rapinoe unleashed a powerful half-volley to send her shot just under the crossbar. USA 4, KOR 0
USA – Rose Lavelle (Alex Morgan), 89th minute: Lynn Williams played Morgan with a vertical pass up the middle which Morgan then lobbed behind the defense with one touch. Lavelle raced in on a breakaway and struck her shot off the goalkeeper and into the left corner just inside the left post. USA 5, KOR 0
USA – Lynn Williams (Tobin Heath), 90+2 minute: Heath danced through several defenders with some of her familiar fancy footwork and then played a short but perfect pass to Williams inside the penalty box to break the line. Williams easily rolled the ball into the right corner to cap the scoring. USA 6, KOR 0
During its 62-game home unbeaten streak, the USWNT has outscored its opponents 227-27, including a 97-3 margin during its last 24 matches at home, all of which have been wins save for the 0-0 draw with Korea Republic on Oct. 21.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski is now 27-2-4.
Goalkeeper Jane Campbell earned her seventh cap as she made her fifth career start for the USWNT. Four of Campbell’s five career starts have come in 2021.
Emily Fox, who played an excellent match at left back, earned her sixth cap overall for the USWNT as she made her fourth career start and first of the year.
Forward Alex Morgan scored her 115th international goal and 8th this year, which ranks third on the team in 2021. Her goal was also her 8th since becoming a mom, the second-most by any mother in USWNT history.
The goal for Rose Lavelle was her 16th in 66 caps and fourth of the year, tied for most in a calendar year for her.
Lindsey Horan’s goal was her 24th in 106 caps and her fifth of 2021. The most she has scored in a calendar yar was seven in 2020.
Forward Megan Rapinoe scored her 10th goal of 2021, setting a new personal record for most goals scored in a single calendar year. She had previously scored nine in 2019.It was her 62nd in 187 caps and puts her just two goals behind Christen Press for ninth all-time in U.S. history.
The goal for Lynn Williams was her 14th in 43rd caps and fifth of the year, the most she has ever scored in a calendar year for the USA.
Match: United States Women’s National Team vs. Korea Republic
Date: October 26, 2021
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minnesota
Attendance: 18,115
Kickoff: 7:08 p.m. local (8:08 p.m. ET)
Weather: 52 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 4 6
KOR 0 0 0
USA – Lindsey Horan (Sophia Smith) 9th minute
KOR – Sohyun Cho (Own Goal) 45
USA – Alex Morgan (Megan Rapinoe) 69
USA – Megan Rapinoe(Emily Sonnett) 85
USA – Rose Lavelle(Alex Morgan) 89
USA – Lynn Williams (TobinHeath) 90+2
Lineups:
USA: 18-Jane Campbell; 14-Emily Sonnett, 2-Abby Dahlkemper, 12-Tierna Davidson(4-Becky Sauerbrunn,72), 26-Emily Fox; 25-Andi Sullivan(7-Tobin Heath,71), 9-Lindsey Horan, 17-Catarina Macario(16-Rose Lavelle, 55); 27-Sophia Smith(6-Lynn Williams,72), 10-Carli Lloyd (Capt.) (13-Alex Morgan, 66), 11-Mallory Pugh (15-Megan Rapinoe, 55)
Substitutes not used: 5-Kelley O’Hara, 20-Casey Krueger, 21-Adrianna Franch, 22-Kristie Mewis
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
KOR: 18-Jungmi KIM; 7-Hyeri KIM (23-Mijin CHO, 73), 5-Hyeji HONG, 6-Seonjoo LIM, 16-Selgi JANG; 2-Hyojoo CHOO (22-Jeongmin LEE, 90+3), 17-Youngju LEE, 11-Yuri CHOE (3-Yeonga JEONG, 26), 8-Sohyun CHO; 10-Soyun JI (Capt.), 13-Geummin LEE (12-Hwayeon SON, 51)
Substitutes not used: 1-Younggeul YOON, 4-Sohee LEE, 9-Minji YEO, 14-Jiyoun SEO, 15-Yeeun PARK,19-Gaae KANG, 20-Hahnul KWON, 21-Seongmi KIM
Head coach: Colin Bell
Stats Summary: USA / KOR
Shots: 29 / 2
Shots on Goal:13 / 1
Saves: 1 /8
Corner Kicks:8/ 0
Fouls:7 /10
Offside:4 /1
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Andi Sullivan (Caution) 41st minute
Officials:
Referee: Karen Abt (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Felisha Mariscal (USA)
4th Official: Melissa Borjas (HON)
Budweiser Woman of the Match: Carli Lloyd