Carli Lloyd kicks off her farewell tour with the USWNT by scoring five goals against Paraguay

Cleveland, Ohio - The farewell tour of one of American soccer’s greatest players kicked off with a bang in a friendly match between Team USA and Paraguay.

US forward Carli Lloyd scored five goals, tying a team record as the USWNT routed Paraguay 9-0.
US forward Carli Lloyd scored five goals, tying a team record as the USWNT routed Paraguay 9-0.  © IMAGO / Icon SMI

American forward Carli Lloyd is retiring soon from professional soccer, but she definitely hasn’t lost a step as she played a masterful part in a 9-0 rout of Paraguay, in the first-ever match between the two squads on Thursday night.

Lloyd has now started a farewell tour of sorts, playing in the first of four friendly matches to feature her playing with the US women’s national team.

Thursday’s offensive onslaught kicked things off in the most spectacular way, as the 39-year-old scored five goals, tying the team record for goals in a single match, also achieved by former player Abby Wambach

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Lloyd got her historic night started within the first six minutes of the match, scoring her first goal in the third minute and another just three minutes later to set the score at 2-0.

Midfielder Andi Sullivan and forward Lynn Williams each scored a goal to put Team USA up even more.

Lloyd was at it again for two more by the halfway break, before Sullivan scored her second of the night to make it 7-0.

The score then went to 8-0 thanks to Lloyd’s fifth of the night and the evening was capped off by forward Tobin Heath.

With five goals on the night, Lloyd now sits at third on the USWNT all-time goals list with 133, behind only Mia Hamm (158) and Abby Wambach (184).

Team USA’s defense was equally dominant in not allowing a single shot on goal, as Paraguay finished the game with a solitary attempt that never came close.

This was the USWNT's 21st consecutive win on American soil.

Both teams are back in action with a friendly rematch in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 21.

Cover photo: IMAGO / Icon SMI

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