USWNT sends Julie Ertz off with confident 3-0 win over South Africa

One of the team’s greats got her farewell in an uncomplicated USWNT win

A new era is beginning for the U.S. women’s national team, and that means saying goodbye to some veteran stars.

The USWNT gave two-time World Cup champion Julie Ertz the kind of farewell match she would have likely wanted, with a confident, uncomplicated 3-0 win over South Africa on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

Lynn Williams claimed two goals, sandwiching Trinity Rodman’s finish from open play as the U.S. reeled off all of its goals in a nine-minute span late in the first half.

Unsurprisingly, the USWNT looked for Ertz — possibly the best set-piece target in program history — on most of its early set piece opportunities, but couldn’t quite carve out a serious threat.

However, it was only a matter of time, and while Ertz didn’t score the opener herself, her customary near-post run was a big factor as Williams gave the U.S. a 32nd-minute lead.

If that goal required a bit of good fortune — Williams and the USWNT had to appeal for the goal to be given, as the ball only barely crossed the line — it took just 65 seconds to score a far more authoritative second.

A counter-press at midfield won the ball back for the USWNT, and a rapid-fire passing sequence ended with Alex Morgan running in behind the South African defense. From there, the San Diego Wave striker teed Trinity Rodman up perfectly for a close-range finish.

Before the celebrations even truly petered out after that goal, Ertz was given her moment, with TQL Stadium giving the USWNT legend a standing ovation in the 35th minute, as she stepped off the pitch one last time.

Another corner made it 3-0 before halftime, with Andi Sullivan (who replaced Ertz) serving in a near-post ball. Lindsey Horan’s cheeky flick caught South Africa off-guard, with Williams once again on hand to make sure the ball got over the line.

With much of the talk around the game surrounding a changing of the guard for the USWNT, interim coach Twila Kilgore’s second half substitutions included three players who suffered various sorts of World Cup snubs. Ashley Hatch and Casey Krueger were left off the roster entirely, while Ashley Sanchez saw zero minutes of playing time for a goal-starved USWNT in Australia and New Zealand.

That trio,18-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson (who appeared in just one World Cup match), and USWNT debutant M.A. Vignola all entered the match, with more experienced names like Horan, Morgan, Crystal Dunn, and Emily Fox among those coming off.

In the end, Ertz watched on as the USWNT defense — something she took ferocious pride in throughout her 123-cap national team career — gave Alyssa Naeher precious little to do against a side that advanced to the World Cup’s round of 16.

The USWNT will wrap up the September window with another big goodbye, as Megan Rapinoe’s final match with the team looms on Sunday in Chicago.

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