Player of the Week

Player of the Week: Carli Lloyd

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Delran, N.J.’s greatest daughter may be past her prime.

The days when Carli Lloyd was an automatic starter for the USWNT are gone, four years removed from a rampaging World Cup performance that turned her into a legend.

But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the magic in her anymore.

Lloyd proved that this past week in the first two World Cup matches for the United States.

Coming on as a substitute in the Americans’ demolition of Thailand, Lloyd notched her first goal of the tournament in extra time off an Alex Morgan pass — lucky number 13 on the day.

With manager Jill Ellis opting for heavy squad rotation, Lloyd was called upon to captain the side against Chile. It took just 11 minutes for her to get on the scoresheet yet again with a classic unstoppable volley from the edge of the box. Dating back to the 2015 tournament, that makes six consecutive World Cup matches where Lloyd has scored a goal.

(Lloyd’s celebration, by the way? A delicate golf clap.)

Lloyd picked up her brace 24 minutes later on a powerful headed goal.

The USWNT have cakewalked through the first two matches of the tournament, with the truly tough challenges still waiting ahead.

Carli Lloyd in good form is yet another reason why the Americans will feel good about their chances.

Honorable mentions

  • Does Julie Ertz count as local? After all, her husband, Julie Ertz’s Husband, is an extremely good player for the local American football club. Ertz opened the World Cup with two strong games, playing both midfield and center back, and scoring a goal against Chile.
  • The Newark Neymar, Anthony Fontana, scored his first goal for the Union in over a year. At the time, it looked to be an extra-time match winner in the U.S. Open Cup. Alas…
  • Bethlehem Steel’s midfield quadrant of James Chambers, Issa Rayan, Zach Zandi, and Fontana controlled the match against Saint Louis for the Steel’s first win in over a month. (Zandi also made his Union debut in the Open Cup match.)

3 Comments

  1. do not disagree with this. regardless of the US’ fate, Lloyd has given 100%. much more meaningful cap than Wambach last WWC.

    • Andy Muenz says:

      Lloyd has always been much more of a big game player than Wambach ever was. See 2008 and 2012 Olympic Gold Medal games and 2015 World Cup final.

  2. UnionGoal says:

    Nice of you to give her recognition but let’s face it–her club’s attendance of all home games in past year combined is still less than a single sold out union game, despite being at a quarter the cost of a union game.
    If people give a flying hoot about women’s soccer in us outside of every 4 years, Carli Lloyd would be drawing at least 10-15 thousand to a game. She’s not.
    And nwsl with only 9 teams and most having similar attendance to sky blue, will disappear before next world cup. Next Carli will have no opportunity after college.
    Sadly, I believe there is demand for women’s soccer.
    Marketing helps, TV viewership helps, timing game times correctly helps.
    Solve these issues and equality in pay follows. USSF most corrupt incompetent organization ever and totally fucked up women’s soccer in us. Then puts gulati in Hall of fame—for real.
    Paying salary of 23 nwsl players is not a solution. Using several million of over $100million uswnt has earned to boost nwsl woul go long way. Instead ussf sits on that money or spends on men’s team and 2026 bid. Atrocious.

    Disgusted UnionGoal

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