Heartbreak as Chloe Logarzo’s Matildas comeback ends in tears

The gun midfielder, who has had a horrific run with injuries, lasted less than half an hour in her long-awaited Matildas return.

Chloe Logarzo has endured a heartbreaking return to the national team after a horrific battle with injuries.

The goalscoring midfielder was in tears after the national anthem on Wednesday prior to the Matildas’ 3-1 friendly victory over Taiwan in Melbourne.

Less than 30 minutes into the game, she was in tears again for very different reasons after the 29-year-old was forced from the field in concussion protocols.

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Logarzo, who scored a stunning long-range goal against Brazil in the 2019 World Cup (see below), ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in her last appearance for Australia, against Ireland in Dublin in 2021.

Hip, leg and foot injuries also stymied her progress until a strong recent run with Western United in the A-League Women competition led to a long awaited recall to the national side.

In the 27th minute, Logarzo and Taiwan’s Chan Pi-Han both contested a header and while the Aussie got to the ball first, the pair also made heavy contact with each other.

Watch the collision in the video player above

Chloe Logarzo (right) in action prior to the injury. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“That is really a violent collision there with Chan Pi-Han,” the commentator said on the Paramount Plus coverage.

“Chloe Logarzo does not take a backward step in those sorts of challenges, ultimate competitor.

“She hasn’t really moved from the turf.”

Once she had slowly returned to her feet, Logarzo was checked out by the team doctor and was seen mouthing “please, please” as her fate started to become clear.

After such an arduous, three-year journey back to Matildas colours, Logarzo was forced to make the long walk from the pitch as her dream match was over so quickly.

“You can see her there going ‘please, please’,” another commentator added. “But she has to go off. Concussion is a real danger in sport.

Logarzo and Chan Pi-Han clash heads. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

It was a brutal impact. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“You saw how much she wanted to be out there. It’s been such a torturous road for Chloe Logarzo. She’s really struggling to hold back the tears here.

“That’s heartbreaking isn’t it.

“Three years after her last start I think she has to go off and the doctor has decided not to take any chances.”

The moment seemed to impact Logarzo’s teammates, who had strolled to a 2-0 lead within 12 minutes via first Aussie goals for Natasha Prior and Sharn Freier.

The visitors then found the back of the net, and their first goal against Australia since way back in 2007, courtesy of a neat move and finish from Jin-Wen Chen in the 34th minute.

“I think since the injury to Logarzo, the Australian side really didn’t settle back in,” the commentators said.

“The goal even more so, left them a bit rattled.

“The last five or 10 minutes they’ve looked a little more shaky.”

A wide range of football fans reacted with dismay to Logarzo’s injury, a popular figure in Australian sport who appeared in the most recent season of The Amazing Race TV show alongside fellow Matilda Emily Gielnik.

Journalist Peter Murphy wrote on X: “My heart breaks for The Matildas and Chloe Logarzo. I hope she knows how wonderful she played. I hope she’s okay.”

Football producer Sacha Pisani offered: “Tough to watch that sequence. After clashing heads, could see Matildas’ Chloe Logarzo say “please” as doctors recommended she be subbed due to concussion protocol.”

Editor Duska Sulicich tweeted: “Such a shame for Chloe Logarzo. Hope she gets to play in the next game.”

Logarzo was in tears after the anthem and when she was taken off.

Football writer Joey Lynch added: “Logarzo has the absolute worst luck in a Matildas shirt. It’s absolutely effed.”

Women’s football account Beyond 90 wrote: “Heartbreak for Logarzo after such a lengthy absence, but her head injury is adjudged too great a concussion risk to continue.”

Fan Zara McCarthy stated: “Whoever cursed Chloe Logarzo with the worst luck in the world … I wanna have a word.”

With Logarzo watching on from the bench with an ice pack held to her head, it took until the 78th minute for Australia to find another goal through Bryleeh Henry.

That proved the final goal in an important win for this new look Australian side, missing its European based stars, which faces Taiwan again on Saturday.