Do you remember Megan Rapinoe‘s final career game? The USWNT icon was subbed off within just three minutes of kick-off after going down injured during OL Reign’s NWSL Championship clash against Gotham FC. Fast forward to today, Alex Morgan was in action for San Diego Waves to also play her last career game against North Carolina Courage. Sadly, everything went south for the ex-Tottenham star on her send-off game too. Not only did Morgan miss a penalty, but was subbed within 13 minutes, compelling fans to sympathize with the pregnant forward.  

Goal fiesta began early at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium today as the visitors opened the scoring inside four minutes. Striker Haley Hopkins gave a perfect lead to the Courage. Interestingly, an opportunity came during the 10-minute mark where the Waves’ won a penalty to level the score. Of course, it was only logical for Morgan to be the penalty taker. The 35-year-old had a perfect chance to make her final game memorable by finding the back at the net while simultaneously helping her side.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the story that the gods wished for as Morgan failed to convert from the spot. Casey Murphy dived the correct way to deny the 2x World Champion enjoying her moment. Luckily, a couple of minutes later, defender Kennedy Wesley paid Morgan’s debt to level the score, courtesy of an assist from María Sánchez.

Interestingly, the 13-minute mark of the match saw Alex Morgan get subbed off. The captain hugged each of her teammates and walked off the pitch in tears, with the crowd giving the former Orlando Pride star a standing ovation. However, the moment she left the pitch, everything went downhill for Landon Donovan’s side. North Carolina got ahead in no time as left-back Felicitas Rauch doubled the score line.

Center-back Malia Berkely was surely on fire today as her second assist helped winger Bianca St-Georges make it 1-3. Be that as it may, this is surely not the farewell game that Morgan wished for, especially the fact that she missed her chance to sign off the pitch with her last-ever goal. This heartbreaking incident has united the soccer fraternity to express their remorse for the American legend.

Soccer world shows compassion for unlucky Alex Morgan

Things couldn’t have been more dramatic for San Diego Waves and Alex Morgan. It surely would have been a proper send-off for the USWNT skipper from her final. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the script fate wanted to go with as the forward left the pitch with the guilt of not scoring in her final game. For now, fans are here to comfort Morgan for not being able to live her moment.

One may understand why the veteran got subbed off the pitch, considering the 13th minute was the lucky number to leave the pitch and also the fact she’s pregnant. Nevertheless, had she found the back of the net, it would have been the icing on the cake. Still, it doesn’t matter as she has nothing to prove anymore. It’s still a special day, says one fan.

Only if Casey Murphy would have let the goal slide past her this time; even if it was the last game of Morgan, the Courage goalie didn’t think of letting her NWSL rival enjoy her moment. Instead, she showed her cat-like reflexes and dived in the right place to deny the icon taking something positive from the match.

Seriously, read the room, Casey. We know it’s the 28-year-old’s job to remain professional and not to concede goals for her domestic side. However, judging by the reactions of the fans, she could have let Morgan slide one goal past her guard. But then again, we won’t blame Murphy for saving it as well but just to say that Alex was unlucky today.

But then again, such things are a part of the game. Despite missing the target, not a single San Diego Wave star complained to about missing the kick from the spot. Instead, she was given a pat on the back for keeping her head up. Just as they say, sometimes life doesn’t go the way we exactly want.

Besides being unlucky, Alex Morgan didn’t execute the penalty in a way she often does. It reminded us of the last year’s clash FIFA World Cup group stage match against Vietnam, where she had failed to score. Perhaps she must have been caught with the pressure to score in her final game. On top of that, the forward would have hardly liked to see her goal being just given up as a charity.

On the contrary, if Morgan had scored the penalty, it certainly wouldn’t have counted as a true goal in her dictionary. Though she missed the easiest chances of scoring in the beautiful game, fate didn’t want her to take her final game with a goal from a penalty kick. It must have been written in the stars for her to score in some cheeky manner. Sadly, that just wasn’t the case today.

Regardless of all the differences, the moment has surely mar the final game of her career. That surely won’t affect what she has achieved throughout her career.