Returning Matildas star tears up as she is heartbreakingly forced off after waiting three years to make her international return due to nightmare spate of injuries
It was a tough night for Australian star Chloe Logarzo, whose long-awaited injury return was painfully cut short on Wednesday.
The Matildas recorded a sloppy 3-1 win against Chinese Taipei in Melbourne, with Natasha Prior, Sharn Freier and Bryleeh Henry all on the scoresheet.
Logarzo, 29, making her first international appearance in more than three years, looked visibly emotional as Advance Australia Fair sounded at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium, turning away from her teammates as she broke down in tears.
Her last appearance for the Matildas came against Ireland in 2021 and since then she has fought valiantly to bounce back from a series of horrific injuries, including a torn cruciate ligament and a hip problem, to return to full fitness.
But after helping her team take a 2-0 lead in the first twelve minutes of the match, Logarzo clashed with Taipei’s Chan Pi-Han. The pair had contested a header, with Logarzo falling to the ground.
“That’s a really violent clash with Chan Pi-Han,” the commentator said.
As Logarzo fell to the ground, the commentator added: “She didn’t really move off the grass.”
Logarzo slowly got back to his feet, but given the nature of the blow to the head, the medics were forced to pull Logarzo off the field.
In heartbreaking scenes, the Western United star appeared to plead with team doctors, uttering the words ‘please, please’ as she realized she was being taken off the pitch.
“You see her go there” please, please. But she has to go. Concussion is a real danger in sport,” the commentator added.
‘You could see how much she wanted to be there. It’s been a torturous road for Chloe Logarzo. She’s really having trouble holding back the tears here.’
After making the walk back to the sideline, Logarzo was seen with her head in her hands and appeared to be heartbreakingly in tears on the sideline, realizing her game was over.
More to follow…