The United States women's national team defeated Paraguay 9-0 on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. Carli Lloyd, playing in her last handful of USWNT matches, was the star, netting five goals. Andi Sullivan, Lynn Williams and Tobin Heath all joined her on the score sheet in the lopsided victory. Mallory Pugh recorded three assists.
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The USWNT got off to a quick start with their opening goal coming just three minutes into the match, as Pugh delivered a corner kick service into the box and Lloyd headed away the breakthrough goal.
Lloyd scored a second goal just minutes after the opening goal and the scoreline for first ever senior level match against Paraguay continued to balloon over the first half. The home side remained active in front of the goal and took advantage of the space the Paraguay was allowing, leading to two additional goals from Sullivan and Williams by the half hour mark for a 4-0 lead.
Sullivan's goal in the 25th minute was her first national team goal, and she ended the game with two goals and an assist.
In her first game since the announcement of her retirement, Lloyd recorded a hat-trick just past the half hour mark, and had scored five goals by the end of the match.
The Carli Lloyd tour continues
The USWNT currently has four scheduled games over September and October. The first game against Paraguay in Cleveland ended with five goals from Lloyd, who plans on stepping away from the game after she concludes her NWSL club season with NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Lloyd continues to make history during her final stretch of games. Her hat-trick against Paraguay was ninth recorded hat-trick all time, and broke a tie with Mia Hamm for most hat-trick's in USWNT history. Perhaps her most recognizable hat-trick was during the 2015 World Cup final, where she recorded three goals in just 16 minutes.
The five goals she scored against Paraguay made her the 10th USWNT player to ever record a five goals during a match. Lloyd ended the night with five goals, bringing her record to 133, and is now in third place for all-time USWNT goal scorers. Former U.S. international striker Abby Wambach currently holds the record for most USWNT goals with 184, along with Hamm in second place with 158. The two hall of famers both ended their careers being the as the leading all-time scorers at the time of their respective retirements.
The USWNT will face Paraguay in a second friendly in Cincinnati on Tuesday, September 21.