NWSL Final 2023: Megan Rapinoe limps off early in final game as her OL Reign go down 2-1 to Gotham FC
Rapinoe lasted just three minutes of the championship decider as former USWNT teammate Ali Krieger bowed out on a high note thanks to Esther Gonzalez's winner just before half-time.
Football
"You don't always get to have the perfect ending."
So said Megan Rapinoe whose contribution to the 2023 NWSL Final on Saturday (11 November) was restricted to three minutes due to a suspected torn Achilles sustained.
Without her, OL Reign went down 2-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC for whom Ali Krieger - who embraced her former USWNT teammate as she limped off - did enjoy the perfect ending to her career as she and Gotham claimed their first NWSL title inside San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium.
Lynn Williams, playing in a record fourth NWSL Final, gave Gotham the lead in the 24th minute but Rose Lavelle soon equalised for the Reign.
Spain's World Cup winner Esther Gonzalez headed what would prove to be the winner in first-half injury time despite Gotham having goalkeeper Mandy Haught sent off in injury time for handling the ball outside the area.
The crowd chanted Krieger's name at the end as Williams maintained her perfect record in NWSL Finals.
Midge Purce stars as injury curtails Megan Rapinoe's swansong
The match had been billed as Rapinoe's farewell but, after just three minutes, she went down with no other players near her.
"It felt like just a huge pop," said the 38-year-old star afterwards as reported by ESPN. "The worst possible outcome. I just thank god I have a deep well of sense of humour but just obviously devastating to go out in the final so early.
"That's life. I was feeling really good before the game, wasn't feeling tight or wasn't having calf issues or anything. You don't always get to have the perfect ending."
Midge Purce won the MVP award on the night after assisting on both goals for Gotham who finished bottom of the league last season.
A superb run and pass set up Williams for the opener, and her corner was powerfully headed home by Gonzalez to put the New Jersey-based team into a lead they would not relinquish.
It was a first NWSL crown for Gotham, formerly known as Sky Blue FC, who had just scraped into the sixth and last play-off spot on goal difference.
Despite the premature end to her career, London 2012 Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion Rapinoe was far from despondent after the final whistle.
She reflected, "I feel so lucky and so grateful to have played as long as I've played and to have played with the incredible players that I've played with.
"I'm looking forward to retirement. I'm retiring on the field, but you'll definitely be seeing a lot of me off of it."