It promises to be an emotional night at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn., as U.S. women’s national soccer team legend Carli Lloyd plays her final match for the USWNT to close out a legendary career. There are plans to honor her before and after the match against South Korea and the tears will be flowing with 28 members of her friends and family in attendance.
“I know when I play this game it’s going to be really hard to hold back the tears and get on the mic after the game, but I’m just going to embrace it and I’m going to know they’re here by my side,” Lloyd told media members before the game. “Having them here, being able to close out my career is going to be one of the best things that’s probably ever happened to me. Just knowing I can walk away at peace and content is really, really special.”
The 39-year-old Lloyd has played 315 matches (second most in world soccer history behind Kristine Lilly’s 354) and she has scored 134 goals (third in USWNT history and fourth all-time in the world). She featured off the bench for the final 27 minutes against South Korea last Thursday in Kansas City, surely saving herself for the start and the captain’s armband on Tuesday. Lloyd has two more regular season matches in the NWSL with NJ/NY Gotham FC (Oct. 28 and Oct. 31) and any playoff matches before officially hanging up her boots.
MORE: Where Carli Lloyd ranks among USWNT's all-time greats
