It promises to be an emotional night at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the legend of the United States women’s national soccer team, Carli Lloyd, plays her final game for the USWNT to close out a legendary career. There are plans to honor her before and after the game against South Korea and tears will flow with the presence of 28 members of her friends and family.
“I know when I play this game it’s going to be very difficult to hold back the tears and get on the mic after the game, but I’ll just hug it and know they’re here for me,” Lloyd told members of the media before the game. Here, being able to close my career is going to be one of the best things that has probably happened to me. Just knowing that I can leave in peace and content is really very special. “
Lloyd, 39, has played 315 games (the second most in world soccer history behind Kristine Lilly’s 354) and scored 134 goals (third in USWNT history and fourth all-time in the world). She appeared off the bench for the final 27 minutes against South Korea last Thursday in Kansas City, presumably saving herself for the kickoff and the captain’s armband on Tuesday. Lloyd has two more regular season games in the NWSL with NJ / NY Gotham FC (October 28 and October 31) and any playoff games before officially hanging up his boots.
MORE: Where Carli Lloyd Ranks Among USWNT’s All-Time Greats
It will not be easy for Lloyd to close his career with a goal. The No. 18-ranked South Korean team managed to knock out the Americans in a 0-0 draw on Thursday, ending a 22-game winning streak at home. The USWNT is also undefeated in 61 consecutive home games (55-0-6).
Tuesday will be the last home game of 2021 for the USWNT ahead of a planned November trip for matches in Australia (November 27 and November 30) to close out the year. The next big competition for the Americans is the 2023 World Cup with regional qualification taking place in July 2022.
How to watch the United States against South Korea
- Date: Tuesday, October 26
- Weather: 8 pm ET
- TV channels: FS1
- Spanish television: TUDN
- Transmission: fuboTV
The game will be broadcast in English (FS1) and Spanish (TUDN) in the US Both channels are available on fuboTV, which is available to new users in a 7-day free trial.
FS1 will have full pre-game coverage starting at 7:30 pm ET and a dedicated “CarliCam” is accessible on the FOX Sports app and on FS1’s social media channels.
MORE: USWNT Faces Big Decisions Ahead Of 2023 World Cup
The game will be played at Allianz Field in Minnesota, home to Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United FC.
USA vs. South Korea lineups
Tuesday will be the last game of the USWNT’s four-game Olympic celebration tour. All 22 players from the 2021 Olympic team were invited, but some had to leave due to injury. Four players who were not on the Olympic Team were also added: Andi Sullivan, Sophia Smith, Mallory Pugh and Emily Fox.
Four players did not see the field in the 0-0 draw against South Korea last Thursday and Sullivan was not in the call for the day. due to a minor knee injury.
USWNT Starting Lineup Oct 21 (4-3-3, right to left): 21-Adrianna Franch-GK – 5-Kelley O’Hara, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 12-Tierna Davidson, 20-Casey Krueger – 16-Rose Lavelle, 9-Lindsey Horan, 17-Catarina Macario – 7-Tobin Heath, 13 -Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe
USWNT grants (5): 27-Sophia Smith (46 ‘for Heath), 22-Kristie Mewis (46’ for Macario), 11-Mallory Pugh (46 ‘for Rapinoe), 10-Carli Lloyd (63’ for Morgan), 26-Emily Fox (68 ‘for Krueger)
Unused USWNT subs (4): 18-Jane Campbell-GK, 2-Abby Dahlkemper, 14-Emily Sonnett, 6-Lynn Williams
South Korea coach Colin Bell lined up a team that played in a 5-3-2 defensive formation that effectively closed the attacking gaps the USWNT wanted to operate in. The front two used to move back to provide ample coverage.
MORE: How USWNT’s 22-Game Home Win Streak Was Broke
Korean defenders kept up with their USWNT counterparts and were rarely beaten on dribbling. Goalkeeper Younggeul Yoon also had an outstanding performance with eight saves.
South Korea lineup on Oct 21 (5-3-2, right to left): 1-Younggeul Yoon-GK – 2-Hyojoo Choo, 6-Seonjoo Lim, 5-Hyeji Hong, 17-Youngju Lee, 16-Selgi Jang – 15-Yeeun Park, 10-Soyun Ji, 8-Sohyun Cho – 13-Geummin Lee, 11-Yuri Choe
Substitutes for South Korea (3): 9-Minji Yeo (63 ‘for Yeeun Park), 7-Hyeri Kim (87’ for Guemmin Lee), 3-Yeonga Jeong (92 ‘for Hyojoo Choo)
Unused South Korean subs (9): 18-Jungmi Kim, 19-Gaae Kang, 4-Sohee Lee, 12-Hwayeon Son, 14-Jiyoun Seo, 20-Hahnul Kwon, 21-Seongmi Kim, 22-Jeongmin Lee, 23-Mijin Cho
USA vs. South Korea: betting odds and prediction
Fees courtesy of PointsBet
Choose: United States wins both halves (-103)
The excitement and energy that the United States women’s team will have in Carli Lloyd’s last game will be too much for a South Korean team that put up stiff resistance in the first game. But the goalkeeper will not have a second consecutive blindness and Carli Lloyd will not be denied in her last appearance.
Prediction: United States 3, South Korea 0
- Money line: USA -834 / Draw +650 / South Korea +1400
- Propagation (Asian handicap): United States -2 (-150) / South Korea +2 (+120)
- O / U 3.5 total goals: Over -115 / Under -115
- Both teams will score: Yes +116 / No -155
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.