Kellyn Acosta of Chicago Fire FC celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against CF Montréal in stoppage time of the second half at Soldier Field on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Mallory Swanson is back on the pitch for the Chicago Red Stars after missing a full season with a patella tendon tear. Naperville native Vanessa DiBernardo notched a milestone in the first purpose-built women’s soccer stadium in the NWSL.
Swanson was on track to helm both the Red Stars and the U.S. women’s national team last season, bagging seven goals in the first six games of the season for the national team. But a torn patella tendon in an April 8 friendly derailed Swanson’s plans for the season, setting her on a lengthy recovery path that included three surgeries and complications due to an infection.
Mallory Swanson after her return: “Life is a beautiful blessing. Health is a blessing. This game that I love is a blessing.” With the score deadlocked in the 99th minute of the game, Acosta lofted a ball from deep behind the half line to serve his teammates clumped up in the box for one final scoring attempt. But the ball stayed aloft all the way into the box, dropping behind Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois as he backpedaled frantically and attempted to bat the ball away. Acosta’s unlikely goal sent the Fire ahead by one for their first win of the season.
DiBernardo, a former Illinois star and the No. 4 pick by the Red Stars in the 2014 NWSL draft, signed as a free agent with the Current before the 2023 season but played only 11 games before suffering a season-ending concussion. She scored the opening goal in the 22nd minute on the backside after Debinha picked off a poor clearance by Portland Thorns goalkeeper Shelby Hogan. The Current went on to win 5-4.The U.S.
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