Crowd of 32,950 Attends 1-0 Loss to China Which Concludes USWNT 2015 Victory Tour
Soccer News: U.S. Soccer legend and all-time leading goalscorer Abby Wambach played her final game for the World Cup champion U.S. Women’s National Team in the final game of its Victory Tour, which finished in a 1-0 defeat to China in front of a record crowd of 32,950 in New Orleans.
After 255 appearances, 18,363 minutes played (including 72 in final match), with her record 184 goals along with 73 assists, Wambach walked off the pitch to a standing ovation for the last time while wearing the Red, White and Blue.
From the game’s beginning, the U.S. controlled possession and it was clear that the team would try everything to get Wambach a goal on her final night. While the legend had a few chances, the goal that the team and the crowd longed for evaded Wambach and the USA.
The U.S. was the dominant side in terms of possession and chances, but it was China that capitalized on its opportunity, which proved to be the game-winner.
China broke the run of play with a few carefully crafted passes and sent the ball out wide to Wang Shanshan, who pushed with pace toward the end line on the right. Near the corner, Shanshan sent a long cross to Wang Shuang, who hit a volley that deflected off Meghan Klingenberg and into the right corner.
The U.S. pushed hard to equalize late, producing a number of near-misses including a Lindsey Horan goal that was called back for the slimmest of offside margins and an Emily Sonnet header that sailed just over the crossbar in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Related Articles: U.S. Soccer Legend Abby Wambach to Retire, TIME 100: Abby Wambach, Top 15 Women’s World Cup Goals of All Time
