Takeaways: USWNT downs South Africa, 3-0, in Julie Ertz farewell match at TQL Stadium
The USWNT enjoyed the latest banner night for U.S. Soccer in Cincinnati at TQL Stadium.
In the first game since its disappointing ouster from this past summer's FIFA Women's World Cup in the Round of 16, the American women dispatched South Africa, 3-0, and bid farewell to one of the program's all-time great players in Julie Ertz.
Lynn Williams scored twice in the first half for the USWNT with a Trinity Rodman goal sandwiched in between. From there, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher had little work to do in preserving the shutout.
The USWNT improved to 3-0-0 in matches played in Cincinnati since 2017. They outscored South Africa, Paraguay and New Zealand by a combined 16-0 in those contests.
Rose Lavelle, the all-time great in terms of Cincinnati products to play for the USWNT, missed the match due to injury but the evening still had plenty of Cincinnati flavor.
These were the key moments from Thursday's win at TQL Stadum:
A farewell to Julie Ertz
TV cameras showed Ertz delivering an emotional pre-match speech in a huddle with teammates. That was preceded by an emotional, on-field ceremony after both teams came out for the national anthems.
U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow-Cone, Sporting Director Matt Crocker, and former men's national team star and Vice President of Sporting Oguchi Onyewu presented Ertz with a framed national team kit with her name and the number "123" printed on the back. The "123" represented the number of caps, or national team appearances, in Ertz's storied career.
The two-time FIFA World Cup winner and iconic midfield presence then went out and, for about 30 minutes of scoreless soccer, had the best chances of the game up to that point. She then exited to a standing ovation, putting a bookend on an illustrious career.
After the match, USWNT players and staff stood at midfield for a video tribute to Erta that included career highlights, plus a message from her husband, Super Bowl champion and current Arizona Cardinals tight end, Zach Ertz.
The first goals of a new era for USWNT
Williams opened the scoring in the 32nd minute for the USWNT, which was fitting in a way after now-former USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski was criticized for not using Williams more during the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
It was equally fitting when the 21-year-old Rodman hammered home for 2-0 two minutes later. Rodman figures to factor heavily in the new world-championship cycle, which will see the U.S. contest the 2024 Paris Olympics and the next World Cup.
Williams scored again just before halftime to cap off the attacking contributions for the game.
The USWNT program remains in a holding pattern for the moment. The search for a permanent head coach is ongoing. Twila Kilgore is presiding over the September camp as interim manager.
U.S. Soccer has said it hopes to name a replacement by the end of the year, but the transition period coming out of the disappointing World Cup showing is still the dominant theme. After Ertz's farewell match Thursday, Megan Rapinoe will receive her send-off match Saturday at Chicago's Soldier Field against South Africa.
But in the meantime, it was refreshing to see smiles on the players' faces Thursday after their shock and disappointment at the World Cup.
Cincinnati's own M.A. Vignola makes USWNT debut
M.A. Vignola, of Cincinnati, Ohio Elite soccer club, and Saint Ursula Academy hadn't heard from U.S. Soccer in up to seven years, she told The Enquirer on Monday. But on Sept. 15 she received a call-up to this week's camp in Cincinnati. She then made her full, senior national team debut in the second half.
It was a storybook moment for a player who did stints at two separate Icelandic clubs and had her 2022 season derailed by injury.
More: 'I can do this.' Meet Cincinnati's M.A. Vignola, the newest USWNT member
In 2023 at Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), Vignola's career has been rejuvenated by interim manager Becki Tweed. She looked up for the task Thursday as she helped the USWNT preserve the shutout against South Africa.
Vignola joined an elite class of Cincinnati products to play for the USWNT, many of which, including Heather Mitts and current USWNT player Aubrey Kingsbury, also emerged from Saint Ursula Academy in East Walnut Hills.
A new chapter for TQL Stadium
U.S. Soccer and FC Cincinnati know they can lean on TQL Stadium for positives outcomes, both in exhibitions and competitives matches. The men's and women's national teams are becoming frequent visitors to the venue, and FCC in 2023 has turned the place into a fortress that's been nearly impenetrable for visitors.
But TQL Stadium revealed a new kit in its toolbox on Thursday: It can also turn on the nostalgia and serve as the backdrop for the historic farewell to long-time great such as Ertz. The game wasn't originally planned as Ertz's last, but it became that during the fallout from the World Cup. And even as TQL Stadium didn't exist for most of Ertz's career, nor is it anywhere near her native Arizona, she definitely didn't voice any qualms about playing her last game there.
TQL Stadium had never hosted an event like Thursday but it's another variety of world-class event you could expect more of in the future. It went off seamlessly, produced indelible moments and images of Ertz, and basically was a perfect companion piece to the historic moment.
U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF have already seen the benefits of hosting major events at TQL Stadium. As individuals like Ertz walk away from the venue with direct ties to some of the greatest moments of their lives, the stature of the venue will only continue to grow. Thursday's farewell to Ertz will live long in the memory of soccer fans and in the history of those organizations, and you should expect more events like that as the venue continues to show its versatility in hosting a diverse array of events.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: USWNT downs South Africa in Julie Ertz farewell match at TQL Stadium
