Watch: US Women Take Shot at Their Critics with Goal Celebration
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team was more subdued in its celebrations during a 3-0 victory over Chile on Sunday in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
After taking heat for what many viewed as over-the-top celebrations during a 13-0 rout of Thailand in the first game of the tournament, the women mocked their critics by taking a different approach.
Instead of leaping group hugs, they celebrated with golf claps.
Team USA’s Carli Lloyd scored the first goal of the game Sunday about 11 minutes in, and after hugging teammate Lindsey Horan, she quietly applauded as if she were in the crowd at the U.S. Open.
WHAT A GOAL FROM CARLI LLOYD! ???
Dream start for the USA! pic.twitter.com/txYUkQTCTN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2019
It was definitely intended to send a message.
“We decided to do something different today,” Horan told ESPN after the match.
“Handshakes were part of it,” she said. “Golf clap was part of it.”
Lloyd’s teammates on the sidelines responded in kind.
i take absolutely no credit for anything this team achieves on the pitch but I will take credit for the inspo behind this celebration ? pic.twitter.com/jI8TIYDCeV
— A West (@ayyy_west) June 16, 2019
“I can’t take credit for it. I’m not sure if Lindsey is taking credit for it,” Lloyd said after a 3-0 win, ESPN reported. “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. I think it made a statement on the sideline there. It was cool.”
The display didn’t go over well with some observers.
No one said don’t celebrate. They said tone it down when you’re freaking up 10. The whole world saw it as bad sportsmanship a few days ago, yet they’re doubling down. This team is incredible, but they’re also emblematic of our deeply divisive, classless society.
— The Big Payback (@Integrity_Plz) June 17, 2019
Yes. She didn’t learn anything about her teams bad sportsmanship last game.
— Gavel (@soundgavel) June 17, 2019
This team is so hard to root for.
— Michael Nomad (@MichaelNomad44) June 17, 2019
Julie Ertz, the wife of Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, scored the second goal on a spectacular header off a corner kick.
#WWCTelemundo ¡Hermoso gol de cabeza! de @julieertz y aumenta la ventaja de @USWNT
Este es su gol 19 con la Selección y 1ero. en #FIFAWWC
Y #USA ya gana 2-0 a #CHI pic.twitter.com/jwWISV7fZT— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2019
Zach Ertz definitely enjoyed it.
Fly Ertz Fly! ???@Eagles TE @ZERTZ_86 loves what he saw in the first half from his wife, U.S. star @julieertz ?? pic.twitter.com/Ma8nhGPR04
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 16, 2019
Lloyd scored again to make it 3-0 on a header off a corner kick. This time, she opted for the more typical celebration.
#WWCTelemundo ¡ Otro más de @CarliLloyd ! en un remate de cabeza anota su gol 113 con @USWNT
Y #USA ya gana 3-0 a #CHI pic.twitter.com/LOLxSO6aqd— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 16, 2019
The U.S. advanced to the next round, taking on Sweden on Thursday in the Group F finals. Sweden and the U.S. are both 2-0, but Team USA owns the tiebreaker thanks to its goal differential from the 13-0 win over Thailand.
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