Carli Lloyd clapped back at her critics… literally.
The veteran led the United States to a 3-0 win over Chile on Sunday as she scored two goals to help the Americans clinch a spot in the knockout round, but she was mindful of her celebrations and politely capped her first goal with a sarcastic golf clap.
"I can't take credit for it. I'm not sure if (teammate) Lindsey (Horan) is taking credit for it," Lloyd said after the game, via ESPN.com .
"She had told me if we score, that's what we're going to do, so I just went along with it after I did my little celebration. But it was fun. I think it made a statement on the sideline there. It was cool."
Team USA has been subject to criticism over the last week, as many questioned whether the U.S. should have continued to celebrate while it set a record for most goals scored in a single match last Tuesday in the team's 13-0 rout of Thailand.
But Lloyd, 36, refused to take her foot off the gas and even became the oldest woman to score more than once in a single World Cup match Sunday. She also became the first player to score in six straight FIFA Women's World Cup games.
"Carli — that's why she's playing — because she comes in and makes differences," USWNT coach Jill Ellis told reporters after the game.
The U.S. will play its final game in the group round on Thursday against Sweden, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET.
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