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China spoils Wambach’s party
Print Edition
ABBY Wambach walked off the field for the final time like a rock star — mic drop and all.
It sounded as if she was ready to party like one, too.
She wasn’t able to leave with a victory in her final game with the US national team. China’s 1-0 victory on Wednesday night, the US team’s first home loss in more than a decade, wasn’t going to diminish the triumphant nature of Wambach’s extraordinary career.
“Tonight is a celebration,” Wambach asserted. “The result, obviously, is annoying. It would be better if we had won, but the reality is I played in so many games. This result doesn’t shape or determine or define my career.”
Wambach said her teammates apologized profusely to her afterward, but she told them, “There’s nothing to be sorry about. Today wasn’t about getting a result.”
Wambach played into the 72nd minute, managing two threatening headers and a shot on goal from inside the penalty area before subbing out of a match for the final time.
“It’s kind of symbolic; I get 70 minutes and we don’t score a goal,” Wambach said, alluding to why it’s time for her, at 35, to retire.
The career scoring leader in international play — for men and women with 184 goals — kicked off her cleats and hugged each teammate on the field before walking to the bench, smiling, to embrace her coaches and remaining teammates as the crowd chanted her name.
“I love this team,” Wambach said in comments delivered on the field to fans after the game. “It has been my pleasure and my honor to represent you all, the fans, for as long as I’ve been able to. ... The future is so bright. These women are going to kill it.”
And she made it clear that, despite the loss, it was time to celebrate, saying, “Bourbon Street, watch out,” before dropping the microphone and walking off alone as her teammates waited behind, applauding with the rest of the crowd.
The US, which won the women’s World Cup this summer, had gone 104 home games without losing since falling to Denmark in 2004.
China scored in the 58th minute, when forward Wang Shuang volleyed in a bounding cross from Wang Shanshan.
The Americans nearly tied China in the 87th minute when Lindsey Horan beat goalkeeper Zhao Lina, but Horan was ruled offside.
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