In a career filled with accolades and memorable wins, Megan Rapinoe ended hers with the United States in fitting fashion Sunday: with a 2-0 victory.
The 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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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.
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.
Although it was her last game with the national team, Rapinoe will still finish the season with her NWSL side OL Reign, which sits in fifth place in the table and is on track to make the playoffs with three matches left.