USWNT star Carli Lloyd trolls critics with golf-clap celebration at World Cup

The U.S. women's national soccer team was criticized by a pair of former Canadian soccer players for running up the score and continuing to celebrate each goal in its record-breaking 13-0 win over Thailand on Tuesday.

Those comments didn't sit well with USA star Alex Morgan, who scored five goals in the win. Then, during Sunday's game vs. Chile in France, team captain Carli Lloyd responded to the team's critics with a low-key celebration following her first-half goal.

Lloyd, who scored twice in the Americans' 3-0 win, enjoyed a typical post-goal celebration before turning to the American bench and proceeding in a polite golf clap. She said the idea came from teammate Lindsey Horan.

"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," Lloyd said, via ESPN. "I think it made a statement on the sideline there. It was cool."

Team USA improved to 2-0 in Group F, ensuring the defending champions a trip to the World Cup knockout stage. Mesa native and Dobson High School alum Julie Ertz scored her first-ever World Cup goal in the victory.