The U.S. women's national soccer team was criticized by a pair of former Canadian soccer players for running up the score and continuing to celebrate each goal in its record-breaking 13-0 win over Thailand on Tuesday.
Those comments didn't sit well with USA star Alex Morgan, who scored five goals in the win. Then, during Sunday's game vs. Chile in France, team captain Carli Lloyd responded to the team's critics with a low-key celebration following her first-half goal.
Lloyd, who scored twice in the Americans' 3-0 win, enjoyed a typical post-goal celebration before turning to the American bench and proceeding in a polite golf clap. She said the idea came from teammate Lindsey Horan.
WHAT A GOAL FROM CARLI LLOYD! 💪🇺🇸
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2019
Dream start for the USA! pic.twitter.com/txYUkQTCTN
Find something to complain about with this golf clap celebration from @CarliLloyd 😂 pic.twitter.com/xYXUduVoga
— SoccerGirlProblems® (@SoccerGrlProbs) June 16, 2019
I made a gif of @CarliLloyd’s celebration golf clap after her first goal in #USACHI because I needed this to exist for every time someone tone polices a #USWNT celebration. #USWNT #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Sw7rUA3ID2
— Phil (@ALazyJellyfish) June 16, 2019
"She had told me if we score, that's what we're going to do, so I just went along with it after I did my little celebration. But it was fun," Lloyd said, via ESPN. "I think it made a statement on the sideline there. It was cool."
Team USA improved to 2-0 in Group F, ensuring the defending champions a trip to the World Cup knockout stage. Mesa native and Dobson High School alum Julie Ertz scored her first-ever World Cup goal in the victory.
Stop us if you've heard this before... Julie Ertz at the near post! 😉
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2019
She scores her 1st career #FIFAWWC goal to double the @USWNT lead! pic.twitter.com/S2DpnurNdf
