Carli Lloyd’s Five-Goal Masterclass Powers USWNT to Dominant 9-0 Victory Over Paraguay

Veteran forward delivers spectacular performance in farewell tour opener as United States overwhelms Paraguay in Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio – Carli Lloyd announced her retirement in style, scoring five goals to lead the United States Women’s National Team to a commanding 9-0 victory over Paraguay at Huntington Bank Field on Thursday night. The dominant performance marked the perfect start to Lloyd’s farewell tour and the USWNT’s return to action following their bronze medal triumph at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Lloyd’s Historic Night

The 39-year-old veteran forward wasted no time making her mark on what would become a historic evening. Lloyd opened the scoring just three minutes into the match with a perfectly placed header from a Mallory Pugh corner kick, glancing the ball past Paraguay goalkeeper Cristina Recalde to give the Americans an early advantage.

Three minutes later, Lloyd doubled the lead with a clinical finish from close range, capitalizing on excellent build-up play to stake the United States to a 2-0 advantage before the five-minute mark. The early goals set the tone for what would become a masterclass performance from the two-time World Cup winner.

Lloyd completed her hat-trick in the 34th minute with another close-range finish, assisted by Andi Sullivan’s precise cross. Her fourth goal came just four minutes later, as she fired home from very close range with assistance from Lynn Williams to give the USWNT a commanding 6-0 halftime lead.

The veteran’s fifth and final goal of the evening came in the 61st minute, as she rose above the Paraguay defense to power home a header from a Catarina Macario corner kick, completing one of the most dominant individual performances in recent USWNT history.

Supporting Cast Shines

While Lloyd stole the headlines, the supporting cast provided excellent contributions throughout the match. Andi Sullivan scored twice, netting in the 25th minute with a tap-in at the back post following a corner kick, then adding her second in the 49th minute with a perfectly placed header from a Mallory Pugh cross.

Lynn Williams also found the scoresheet in the 30th minute, unleashing a spectacular right-footed shot from outside the box that found the top right corner, showcasing the depth of attacking talent at Vlatko Andonovski’s disposal.

Tobin Heath, who recently joined Arsenal in the Women’s Super League, came off the bench to complete the scoring in the 86th minute. The experienced winger settled a long ball over the Paraguay defense before easily slotting home past Recalde to cap off the nine-goal rout.

Tactical Dominance

The United States’ 4-3-3 formation proved perfectly suited to exploit Paraguay’s defensive setup. The Americans dominated possession with 75.9% of the ball, creating 32 shot attempts compared to Paraguay’s single effort. The USWNT’s high press and quick passing combinations consistently broke down Paraguay’s 4-2-3-1 system.

Andonovski’s side registered 18 shots on target, forcing Recalde into eight saves as the Paraguay goalkeeper worked tirelessly to prevent an even larger margin of defeat. The Americans earned 15 corner kicks compared to Paraguay’s zero, highlighting their territorial dominance throughout the 90 minutes.

Farewell Tour Begins

The match marked the beginning of Lloyd’s farewell tour, with the veteran forward set to play four matches with the national team following her retirement announcement in August. Lloyd’s five-goal performance provided the perfect start to what promises to be an emotional send-off for one of American soccer’s greatest players.

Her 134th and 135th international goals (among others) added to a legacy that includes two World Cup victories, two Olympic gold medals, and numerous individual accolades. The performance demonstrated that even at 39, Lloyd remains one of the most clinical finishers in women’s soccer.

Paraguay’s Struggles

For Paraguay, the match highlighted the significant gap between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF’s top teams. Manager’s 4-2-3-1 system struggled to contain the Americans’ attacking movement, particularly down the flanks where Crystal Dunn and Kelley O’Hara provided constant width.

Cristina Recalde deserved credit for preventing an even larger defeat, making several crucial saves throughout the match. The Paraguay defense, led by Tania Riso and Limpia Fretes, faced relentless pressure but showed moments of organization despite the overwhelming challenge.

Return to Action

The victory marked the USWNT’s first match since claiming bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, where they defeated Australia 4-3 in the third-place playoff. The dominant performance against Paraguay demonstrated that the team has maintained its high standards despite the brief break from international competition.

The match also provided valuable minutes for several players as Andonovski continues to evaluate his squad depth ahead of future competitions. The seamless integration of substitutes like Heath, Alex Morgan, and Sophia Smith showed the quality available throughout the roster.

Key Statistics

Match Dominance:

• Possession: USA 75.9%, Paraguay 24.1%
• Shots: USA 32, Paraguay 1
• Shots on Target: USA 18, Paraguay 0
• Corner Kicks: USA 15, Paraguay 0
• Saves: Recalde 8, Franch 0

Individual Brilliance:

• Carli Lloyd: 5 goals (3′, 6′, 34′, 38′, 61′)
• Andi Sullivan: 2 goals (25′, 49′)
• Lynn Williams: 1 goal (30′)
• Tobin Heath: 1 goal (86′)

Looking Ahead

The teams will meet again on September 21 at TQL Stadium, the new home of Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati. Paraguay will hope to show improvement in the second encounter, while the USWNT will look to continue building momentum as Lloyd’s farewell tour continues.

For Lloyd, the performance provided the perfect start to what promises to be an emotional final chapter with the national team. Her five-goal masterclass reminded everyone why she’s considered one of the greatest players in women’s soccer history.

The dominant victory also served notice that despite the retirement of several veteran players, the USWNT remains the gold standard in women’s international soccer, with Lloyd leading by example in her final appearances in the red, white, and blue.

Historical Context

Lloyd’s five-goal performance ranks among the most dominant individual displays in USWNT history. The veteran’s ability to deliver such a spectacular performance at this stage of her career speaks to her professionalism and enduring quality.

The 9-0 victory also represents one of the largest margins of victory in recent USWNT history, demonstrating the team’s ability to maintain focus and intensity even when the result was never in doubt.

As Lloyd’s farewell tour continues, performances like this one will be remembered as fitting tributes to one of American soccer’s most accomplished and beloved players.