USWNT bids farewell to Rapinoe with 2-0 win over South Africa

A solid, suffocating win saw a USWNT legend exit the stage one last time

Megan Rapinoe’s farewell came on Sunday, and the U.S. women’s national team made sure to send her off right.

The USWNT thoroughly controlled the full 90 minutes en route to a 2-0 win over South Africa, with Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett notching goals in either half.

Rapinoe captained the side in her 203rd and final cap, nearly scoring what would have been a jaw-dropping free kick goal with her final touch in a U.S. shirt.

Despite the spotlight being on Rapinoe, the event of the day in theory was a match. Fans in attendance didn’t get a ton to enjoy in either direction in an imprecise opening spell, but the first truly well-worked move from either team ended up being highlight-worthy: Alex Morgan preserved a ball in behind by winning a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge, then looped a cross to Rodman for a thunderous finish.

Fans briefly let out a roar after seeing a classic Rapinoe moment when the winger’s pinpoint cross from the left was tapped home by Morgan in the 33rd minute, but an offside flag — Rapinoe was clearly beyond the last South African defender when played through — spoiled the moment.

Rapinoe still ended up making an impact on the scoreline. A 49th minute corner gave the USWNT legend a chance to repeat one of her favorite tricks, and the OL Reign star went for an olimpico rather than serving the ball in.

South Africa goalkeeper Andile Dlamini managed to slap that bending shot away, but Sonnett was on hand to float the rebound over traffic, making it 2-0.

Rapinoe knew her last moments on the pitch were coming, but nearly followed that up with a goal that would have brought the house down. Standing over a 26-yard free kick, Rapinoe bent what was her final touch in a USWNT shirt over the wall, only to see the ball go just inches too high. Just seconds later, the iconic attacker made her final bow with the national team.

Rodman once again clobbered a shot goalward in the 59th minute, but this longer-range effort cracked off the crossbar. Seconds later, as the sequence continued, Lindsey Horan’s bicycle kick attempt — a possible nod to Rapinoe, who joked pre-game that she would like to score exactly that sort of goal on the day — narrowly missed.

Interim head coach Twila Kilgore made an eagerly-anticipated substitution in the 64th minute, bringing Chelsea forward Mia Fishel in for her USWNT debut up front.

Despite numerous chances to pad the scoreline late on, the USWNT were confounded by some odd bounces, blocked shots, and bad luck, before full time brought an on-field ceremony honoring Rapinoe’s incredible career.

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