Abby Wambach played the final match of her storied career on Wednesday in a loss to China. (Photo Courtesy of Arianna Grainey Photography)
Wednesday didn’t go the way most people thought it would.
Well, most except China’s players and staff, perhaps. But even if they were being honest, one suspects that they too are even surprised right now.
In the most-hyped U.S. women’s national team friendly match ever — an event to celebrate the incredible career of Abby Wambach, the world’s all-time leading goal scorer — the U.S. lost. Wambach’s career is now over. The 104-game, 11-year home unbeaten streak is over. The 2015 Women’s World Cup victory tour is over.
China defeated the United States, 1-0 on Wednesday at the Superdome in New Orleans, La., behind a 58th minute goal by Wang Shuang. It marked the United States’ first loss on home soil since Nov. 6, 2004, when the Americans lost 3-1 to Denmark.
Can Abby Wambach and the #USWNT bounce back? Wang Shuang's goal has China ahead with less than 30 to play. https://t.co/SAAQ0WVhLK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 17, 2015
Wambach exited the game in the 72nd minute. Her teammates spent most of that time trying to get her one last goal, a going-away gift for her sendoff. Instead, the strategy caused for predictable, direct play which China defended easily.
[MORE: Wambach’s greatest moments | KASSOUF: Abby’s leadership stood out]
The loss is poetic: That 104-match unbeaten streak began 11 years ago in the final U.S. matches ever played by Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett. On Wednesday, it ended with Wambach’s sendoff.
And the United States’ loss is also an odd but fitting ending to a bizarre victory tour which had too much turf, an opponent (Australia) cancel two games over a strike (humble Haiti filled in) and the U.S. women refuse to play in Hawaii because of what they called unsafe playing conditions.
Wambach, brutally honest as always, acknowledged that this strange evening was actually a quite fitting end to her 255-game international career.
“I think it’s pretty fitting in that I played 70 minutes and we weren’t able to score a goal,” Wambach told Fox Sports. “It’s like, ‘OK, you know what? It is time to go.”
Abby Wambach reflects on her final match and her incredible career. #ThanksAbby #OnlyOneAbby https://t.co/9vhkIVQjP3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 17, 2015
Wednesday was celebratory. Wednesday was ironic. Wednesday was symbolic of the start of a new era after Wambach. Wednesday was a fitting way to say goodbye to a legend.
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