On her final victory lap, Pia Sundhage hopped and high-stepped her way about the field.
As Sundhage, the Usa women's national soccer group coach, soaked within the cheers from the capacity crowd, her group began serenading her by belting out, "You Are My Sunshine."
A fitting tribute because Sundhage has had the squad in ideal harmony for five years.
A fitting approach to go out, too.
Abby Wambach broke a tie early in the second half and Alex Morgan added two objectives and two assists, helping the United states beat Australia, 6-2, Wednesday night in an international friendly that was Sundhage's farewell game.
"Today is Pia's day," Wambach said. "We've been speaking about it all day: What can we do to show her? She's a passionate woman about this game. We knew the top point we could do was give her a win."
Sundhage announced this month that she was stepping away following major the squad to back-to-back Olympic gold medals. She will return home to coach the Swedish national group.
Heather O'Reilly, Shannon Boxx and Sydney Leroux also scored for the Americans, who are 21-0-2 against Australia.
The Australians went ahead, 2-1 (Chelsea Jersey 2012), late inside the 1st half on Sarah Walsh's low shot previous Hope Solo. Several minutes later, Morgan tied the score.
Wambach deflected inside the decisive aim in the 53rd minute when she just stuck her foot out following Morgan unleashed a shot.
And with that, the team was on its method to sending Sundhage out in winning style.
Sundhage leaves following a very productive stint, going 91-6-10 in her time on the bench. Besides two Olympic gold medals, she also led the Americans to their first Planet Cup final in 12 years.
"She's built this game, assisted elevate the game to a brand new level," said Solo, whose group won its 14th straight match. "So, there is not an excessive amount of to be sad about. Needless to say (Real Madrid Jersey 2013), we're heartbroken that she's gone. But she's fulfilling her dreams and we're going to fulfill ours."
As a goodbye present, the team recently gave Sundhage a guitar that was signed by all the players in ?a surprise, surprise ?a the color of gold.
"It's the very best present I ever got," she said.
They gave her rather a few memories along the way, too.
Sundhage's most poignant? That's effortless: When the team roared back against Brazil in the quarterfinals in the 2011 World Cup. Wambach tied it at 2-2 having a magnificent, leaping header inside the 122nd minute. The United states ultimately captured the match, 5-3, on penalty kicks.
"Better than a movie," Sundhage said. "That will be the moment of my soccer life."
This final efficiency wasn't also negative, either.
Morgan's performance against the Australians gives her 63 points this year. It's one of the most for any national player within a calendar year because 2004, when Wambach accounted for 75 points.
"We wanted to give her an excellent show," Morgan stated. "We did not possess the appropriate rhythm inside the initial half. We're content that we got a win in Pia's last game."
After the match was more than (Barcelona Soccer Jersey), Sundhage hugged everybody in sight. She also began signing via tears ?a Tina Turner's classic (Manchester United Jersey), "Simply the best."
It was every day of singing for Sundhage, who performed tunes within the pregame meeting also. The song list integrated: "The Times They are A-Changin" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
Sundhage came in singing and left the same way.
"When a coach comes in and you do not know who they're and they begin singing songs to you, it really is like: ??What is this going to become? How is this going to go?"?? Wambach stated. "Thankfully, it went well. It turned out genuinely nicely for us."
Over Sundhage's career, she has produced a habit of jotting down notes filled with emotions and techniques. Lately, she's been seeking back at individuals facts, to keep in mind how particular these players were to her.
The feeling was mutual.
Midfielder Carli Lloyd is convinced she may well not be wearing the red, white and blue if not for Sundhage (cheap soccer jerseys), who modified the way the group played right after taking more than. Sundhage emphasized midfield play even more, generating Lloyd a essential element.
"When Pia 1st came on, she saw me play in earlier tournaments and mentioned to me, ??I actually like how you play and really think in you (soccer jerseys),'?" Lloyd recounted. "From then on, she preached playing inside the midfield, playing possession. That is appropriate up my alley."
Now, the massive question is who replaces Sundhage?
Sunil Gulati, the president from the United states Soccer Federation, lately said that a search committee has been assembled ?a one particular that involves the former player Mia Hamm ?a and a replacement could be chosen possibly subsequent month.
A brand new voice will take some acquiring utilized to for the players. They're used to Sundhage's fun-loving demeanor. She laughed with them. She played guitar for them.
After O'Reilly's early goal, the team went more than to Sundhage on the bench and played air guitar for her.
"If you appear at her statistics alone, she's done a fabulous job (custom soccer jerseys)," Lloyd mentioned. "But it's not only stats; it's the way she is as someone. She brings so significantly joy and pleasure. It is contagious, the way she has so much passion for the game."
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