In the USWNT's first game since dealing with the issue over how they celebrated the goals in their 13-0 rout over Thailand, some pundits questioned how the team would celebrate when they inevitably scored against an outmatched Chilean squad. That question was answered just 11 minutes into the game thanks to Carli Lloyd in her return to the starting lineup.
On Sunday, the USWNT returned for their second Group F match of the World Cup, facing Chile. And it didn't take long for the team to issue their on-field response to all those angry fans and Canadian soccer analysts out there.
When Carli Lloyd opened the scoring with an 11th-minute goal, she eventually turned to her teammates on the bench and broke out a polite golf clap. The bench joined in on the celebration and signaled a combination of thumbs up and handshakes. She said the idea came from teammate Lindsey Horan.
"She had told me if we score, that's what we're going to do, so I just went along with it after I did my little celebration. But it was fun," Lloyd said, via ESPN. "I think it made a statement on the sideline there. It was cool."
A record-setting 13-0 rout of Thailand that opened the tournament for the Americans sparked a debate back home. Some cried poor sportsmanship. Others argued players shouldn't be asked to let up on soccer's biggest stage.
Perhaps that was the best way to send a message after tongues were set wagging over the American players' celebrations late in the rout against Thailand. That criticism, some argued, demonstrated an uneven playing field for women.
"I guess we could have just passed it around the back for a million times, but that's boring. That's disrespectful to everyone: fans, ourselves," veteran Megan Rapinoe said. "The only thing you ask of an athlete really is to put it all out there and do the best you can. It's not in our DNA ever."
Whatever it was, Lloyd, Horan and the gang displayed a great celebration Sunday, one that didn't deepen an opponent's humiliation and one that just might have put the whole controversy to rest.
Team USA improved to 2-0 in Group F, ensuring the defending champions a trip to the World Cup knockout stage. Mesa native and Dobson High School alum Julie Ertz scored her first-ever World Cup goal in the victory.
