Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett scored, and the Americans won their farewell match as a member of the national team to send their captain towards retirement.
The US defeated South Africa 2-0 on Sunday, and Megan Rapinoe received a joyful send-off.
Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett scored, and the Americans won their farewell match as a member of the national team to send their captain towards retirement.
After receiving a framed jersey commemorating her 203 matches with the United States prior to the victory, the 38-year-old Rapinoe raised her arms to the cheers of the audience.
In the 18th minute, Rodman added to the American celebration as she headed the ball into the goal off an assist from Alex Morgan. She received her first hug from Rapinoe.
With a header in the 49th minute, Sonnett increased the score to 2-0 before leaping into Rapinoe's arms. Rapinoe nearly scored, but her free kick was just slightly high. In the 54th minute, she made her final exit on the world stage to a standing ovation, embracing and hugging her colleagues before blowing a kiss to the audience and bowing.
After a distinguished career that saw her win two World Cup titles, two Olympic gold and bronze medals, and innumerable victory poses with her feet together and her arms stretched wide while grinning from ear to ear, Rapinoe announced her retirement in July. Beyond the pitch, she utilised her platform to advocate for social justice and equitable pay.
She has been expressing her emotions in recent weeks.
Rapinoe let them to flow after the United States' defeat to Sweden in the Women's World Cup this summer, knowing it would be her final competition with the squad. She accomplished it once more last weekend when she participated in her final NWSL rivalry game between the Portland Thorns and the OL Reign.
Before her career is over, Rapinoe still has a few regular-season games left for the Reign, including a send-off game in Seattle on October 6 for local supporters. A great career it has been as well.
She has 63 goals going into her last game for the US, including two straight from corners at the Olympics. She scored six goals and won the Golden Ball for best player in the 2019 World Cup in France.
She led the protracted campaign for equal pay with the men's national team in addition to becoming one of the top players in the history of the sport.
Rapinoe is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ causes, particularly transgender rights. She came out publicly in 2012 and got engaged to basketball player Sue Bird in 2020. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honour, in 2022 thanks to President Joe Biden.
She took a knee during the playing of the national anthem to join former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the movement for social justice. In response, U.S. Soccer put into place a regulation requiring players to stand during the national anthem, which was later lifted in 2021.
