CHICAGO — One extra victory pose for Megan Rapinoe, a part of a becoming exit for top-of-the-line to play the sport.

Rapinoe acquired a triumphant send-off, and the United States beat South Africa 2-0 on Sunday.

Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett scored, and the U.S. despatched its captain towards retirement with one remaining victory as a member of the nationwide group.

The 38-year-old Rapinoe was introduced a framed jersey representing her 203 video games with the United States, and he or she raised her arms as the group roared earlier than the victory. The cheers didn’t appear to cease till she was completed addressing the group after the win and headed into the tunnel.

“I know that I am a liked player,” she stated. “And I know that I mean a lot to the game. But to have this night come and to actually feel it and see it — from my teammates, from our staff and certainly from the fans, who have been such a huge part of our success on and off the field, really — it was very special.”

Rodman put the U.S. in entrance when she drilled the ball into the web off a cross from Alex Morgan within the 18th minute. Rapinoe was the primary to hug her.

Sonnett made it 2-0 with a header within the forty ninth minute after which jumped into the arms of Rapinoe, whose nook kick brought about some bother in entrance of the web. Sonnett then turned her round, and Rapinoe struck that acquainted victory pose, along with her legs collectively and arms unfold extensive.

Rapinoe got here near scoring, however missed simply excessive on a free kick. She exited the worldwide stage for one remaining time to a standing ovation within the 54th minute, kissing and hugging her teammates and blowing a kiss to the group and bowing.

There was a video tribute following the sport. An emotional Rapinoe then addressed the group, at one level having some enjoyable with Lindsey Horan for crying, telling her “Pull it together, Lindsey. She’s not handling it well.”

Rapinoe introduced in July that she was retiring after an illustrious profession that included a pair of World Cup championships in addition to gold and bronze medals within the Olympics. She used her platform make an impression past the pitch, preventing for equal pay and social justice.

In latest weeks, she’s been displaying her feelings.

Rapinoe allow them to circulate following the U.S. loss to Sweden at this summer season’s Women’s World Cup, figuring out it will be her final match with the nationwide group. She did it once more final weekend, when she performed her remaining rivalry match between her NWSL group, OL Reign, and the Portland Thorns. And Sunday was one other one when the tears flowed.

“She radiates acceptance and love,” ahead Midge Purce stated.

Horan acquired choked up speaking about Rapinoe.

“It’s really hard for me because I’m losing, just, an idol,” she stated. “It’s hard. That’s what you’ve looked up to. It’s another reason why you fall in love with the game, those kinds of players that you watch on TV do those things. And you come in and now you’re training with them everyday? It’s freakin’ wild.”

Rapinoe nonetheless has a number of extra regular-season video games for the Reign, together with a send-off match for native followers in Seattle on Oct. 6, earlier than her profession involves an finish. And what a exceptional profession it has been.

She entered her remaining match for the United States with 63 objectives, together with two immediately from nook kicks on the Olympics. At the 2019 World Cup in France, she scored six objectives and took dwelling the Golden Ball as prime participant.

Besides establishing herself as top-of-the-line to play the sport, she led the lengthy struggle for equal pay with the lads’s nationwide group.

Rapinoe, who got here out publicly in 2012 and acquired engaged to basketball star Sue Bird in 2020, is outspoken about LGBTQ points, together with transgender rights. In 2022, President Joe Biden made her the primary soccer participant awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

She confirmed solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick within the struggle for racial fairness by kneeling in the course of the nationwide anthem. And when she seems to be within the stands as of late, she stated she sees a extra various crowd than when she began.

“It’s a really beautiful thing to look out and see little Black girls and little trans kids and boys with our jerseys on,” Rapinoe stated. “I think that’s something that all of us are really proud of and all of us — especially in our generation — know the impact that we’ve made. And we know that it’s a lot different now than when we started.”

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