The U.S. women’s national team returned to action for the first time since the Women’s World Cup and were in fine form as they picked up a 3-0 win over South Africa on Thursday in Cincinnati.
The match served as a farewell to Julie Ertz, the longtime defensive player who started and played 35 minutes in the final match of her storied career. The old guard was present for her swan song, which also marked the first game for interim head coach Twila Kilogre as the USWNT look ahead to the Olympic Games in Paris in 10 months. There was still room for a debut for defender M.A. Vignola, as well as some minutes for those who did not make it to the World Cup roster.
The USWNT used the opportunity to prove that while all eyes are on the future, the current crop still has plenty of quality against a South Africa team that is well and truly on the rise. It allowed the four-time World Cup winners to put on a vintage performance that was sorely missing over the summer.
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