Megan Rapinoe & Co stunned the world this month with their hapless performance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Touted as the favorites, USWNT got eliminated from the round of 16 against Sweden. What made the loss worse was the unexpected decisive penalty miss from the legendary Megan Rapinoe. Heading into the World Cup with a penalty kick conversion of 94.74%, not many expected the veteran to miss the most important penalty of the tournament.
Soon after elimination, the USWNT veteran was slammed left and right in the media with Donald Trump leading the charge. However, Rapinoe managed it all with grace and responded to it all by scoring a penalty kick last night in her NWSL match for OL Reigns.
OL Reigns lose 2-1 against Angel City FC despite late heroics
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Earlier today, OL Reigns locked horns with Angel City FC in what was an entertaining affair. The Natalie Portman-owned side started off the proceedings well as they scored two goals in the first 60 minutes to get the game under control. However, the match changed when Megan Rapinoe was brought on as a substitute in the second half. Within three minutes, she created chances troubling Angel City FC.
The @OLReign pull one back as @mPinoe converts from the spot 👊 pic.twitter.com/Se834aGrVC
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 28, 2023
Rapinoe & Co kept relentlessly pushing till Bethany Balcer was taken down in the box leading to a penalty kick for OL. Rapinoe stepped up and shed off her demons from the World Cup as she calmly slotted the ball in the bottom corner. However, that was not enough as Angel City FC survived the late onslaught by the Reigns and snatched a victory.
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This penalty, despite a losing result, must mean a lot to Rapinoe on a personal level after all that she has heard and been through publicly over the last few weeks.
Throwback to when Donald Trump publicly called out Megan Rapinoe for her disappointing World Cup performance
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Fresh after the shocking oust from the World Cup, the majority of the blame fell on veteran Megan Rapinoe for her questionable presence and penalty kick. Former US President Donald Trump in particular was angry with Rapinoe and drew parallels between her failure to the ‘wokeness’ in America. His political remarks were a shot at Megan’s personal beliefs, her missed penalty, and Joe Biden’s presidency.
“The ‘shocking and totally unexpected’ loss by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team to Sweden is fully emblematic of what is happening to our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden. Many of our players were openly hostile to America – No other country behaved in such a manner, or even close. WOKE EQUALS FAILURE. Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!!!” – said the ex-US President scathingly.
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USWNT fans despite not being over the World Cup exit are happy that their legend has bounced back in style. Here’s hoping Rapinoe continues this form and has a redemption for the USWNT.