United States draws 1-1 with South Korea in Jill Ellis's final match in charge

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:20 am

United States Women's National Team coach Jill Ellis saw her storied career come to an end Sunday with her team's 1-1 tie against South Korea at Chicago in the final game of the squad's World Cup victory tour.

Both goals came in rapid succession. South Korea's Ji Soyun scored from the edge of the penalty area with her right foot in the 34th minute, while the United States matched it three minutes later when Carli Lloyd scored on a header from a Megan Rapinoe corner kick.

Ellis, who announced her pending retirement after this summer's World Cup victory at France, leaves as the winningest coach in national team history. She won two Women's World Cups -- the only coach ever to do so -- and finished 106-7-19 after just moving past Tony DiCicco for most victories in USWNT history on Thursday.

A successor to Ellis has not been named with less than a year remaining before the next Summer Olympics at Japan.

Jill Ellis waves farewell to the crowd ahead of her final match as manager of the U.S. women's team.
Jill Ellis waves farewell to the crowd ahead of her final match as manager of the U.S. women's team.
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Including seven victories at this summer's World Cup, the U.S. had a 17-game win streak that ended with Sunday's tie. It was one victory short of the team record. The U.S. ended the five-game victory tour with a 4-0-1 record, outscoring opponents 13-1.

The United States nearly gave Ellis the victory that was expected, but a goal from Lloyd in stoppage time was nullified by an offside call, and another stoppage-time attempt from Mallory Pugh hit off the crossbar. Jessica McDonald also clanked a header off the right post in the 83rd minute.

South Korea played with 10 players over the final six minutes plus injury time because of a substitution error.

Lloyd's goal in the 37th minute was her team-leading 13th this year. It also gave Rapinoe 62 career USWNT assists, including three in the past two games. She also played in Thursday's victory against South Korea at Charlotte, her first two games since the World Cup ended in July.

The United States is now 10-0-3 all-time against South Korea, outscoring their Sunday opponents 43-5 over all matches. South Korea also participated in the World Cup at France, but lost all three of its games.

The U.S. team returns to action against Sweden on Nov. 7 in Columbus, Ohio.