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What looked like it might be a fairy tale ending for Megan Rapinoe quickly turned into a nightmare on Saturday night.
Rapinoe, playing in her final game as a professional, led her OL Reign team into the NWSL championship aginst Ali Krieger (also retiring after the game) and Gotham FC.
It was a chance for Rapinoe, a legend in the women’s game, to go out on top.
Instead, she was forced to leave the match less than three minutes in after suffering non-contact injury.
Megan Rapinoe goes down with an injury less than three minutes into the NWSL Final in her last career game 💔
She receives a standing ovation from Snapdragon Stadium pic.twitter.com/uwqG2epzMK
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) November 12, 2023
Rapinoe, in tears, left the game and was replaced by Bethany Balcer.
Fans couldn’t believe what they had just seen.
“Heartbreaking. I feel so bad for Pinoe. Her last ever game and she goes down after three minutes. Football can be so cruel sometimes but I place 100% blame on the pitch. Why are professional athletes still playing on turf,” @AliyaLangley tweeted.
“This is an unjustified end to one of the best, if not the best, careers for an American soccer player. The pass to Abby Wambach against Brazil will be played in WWC highlight reels for eternity,” said @br0wnsw0rd.
To make matters worse, Lynn Williams gave Gotham FC a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.
Thankfully for Rapinoe and her teammates, fellow US Women’s National Team star Rose Lavelle tied the game at 1-1 just five minutes later.