Banyana Banyana suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the United States in an international friendly match played at the TQL Stadium on Thursday.

At Cincinnati’s TQP Stadium, Williams scored in the 32nd and 41st minutes, and Trinity Rodman scored in the 34th. This gave the US women an easy win.

The friendly was the USA’s first game since Sweden knocked them out of the World Cup in the last 16 in August. This was the earliest the USA has ever been eliminated from the world football tournament.

The World Cup loss caused coach Vlatko Andonovski to quit, so Thursday’s game in Ohio will be led by Twila Kilgore.

The hosts didn’t seem to be suffering from a World Cup hangover, though, as they quickly took the lead against South Africa, who had made it to the last 16 at the World Cup but lost to the Netherlands.

The first goal by Williams came from a corner kick on the left. The Gotham FC forward headed the ball in from close range to make it 1-0.

Two minutes later, Alex Morgan made a great run down the left side and sent in a cross that Rodman calmly put away with a low finish.

Williams finished off the scoring in the 41st minute when South Africa failed to deal with another American set piece. He tapped the ball in from a few yards out.

US midfielder Julie Ertz, who has played for her country 123 times and won World Cups in 2015 and 2019, also said her final goodbyes at Thursday’s game.

Ertz was captain at the start of the game, but he was taken off in the 35th minute to a standing ovation.

The US women will play South Africa again in a friendly on Sunday in Chicago. This will be Megan Rapinoe’s last game for her country.