Two-time World Cup winner Julie Ertz played her last match for the United States in Cincinnati on Thursday evening, an emotional 3-0 win over South Africa in a friendly match.
Ertz announced last month that she is retiring after a ten-year career. She started against South Africa and wore the captain’s armband for her 123rd appearance for the United States.
Lynn Williams scored twice as the US scored all their goals in the first half. Ertz came off in the 35th minute to a standing ovation from the crowd at TQL Stadium, shortly after Trinity Rodman’s goal that made it 2-0.
The teams will play again on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago. That match will be the last for Megan Rapinoe, who is also retiring.
It was the first match for the United States since exiting the Women’s World Cup in the round of 16 this summer. The Americans were eliminated by Sweden via penalties, the first elimination in football’s top tournament.
The 31-year-old Ertz had already hinted that she would retire after the loss to Sweden, tearfully telling reporters that it was likely her last match wearing the team logo. She made it official in August.
She said before Thursday’s game that the opportunity to spend time with her son and husband Zach Ertz, a tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, was “irreplaceable.” And she was grateful that she could walk away on her own terms.
“I feel like I could take a step back and say, ‘It’s not because Mom can’t play. Mommy can play. She just changed priorities,” Ertz said. “And I think that comes with age and I feel like I’ve been so blessed to have the career that I’ve had.”
It was uncertain whether Ertz would return to football before she was named to the World Cup squad. The two-time U.S. Player of the Year suffered a knee injury before helping the U.S. win bronze at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo before taking time off last year for the birth of her son.
after newsletter promotion
But she played a few friendlies against Ireland in April and signed for Angel City in the National Women’s Soccer League, working her way back into form.
Known for her versatility, Ertz was a center back for the 2015 U.S. World Cup team and a defensive midfielder as the Americans defended their title in 2019.
She ends her career with the national team with 20 goals. She started all 17 World Cup matches.
Ertz scored six goals in 95 games with the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL from 2014 through 2021. She appeared in three games for Angel City this season with one goal.