<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0m24NF_0uHFOV6Q00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0m24NF_0uHFOV6Q00" width="1210" height="806" ></figure>Mallory Swanson makes football look so easy sometimes. No matter who she’s up against, there will always be a moment that as a viewer, will make you sit up and applaud because of how good Swanson is. After not being able to find the back of the net for most of the first half against the Houston Dash, the Chicago Red Stars needed Swanson to do what she does best, and find a way to beat Jane Campbell in goal.It wasn’t for the lack of trying though. Chicago had probed at the Dash’s backline all of that first half but lacked a little bit of finesse right when they needed it most. Jane Campbell has been in great form for both club and country, and if you don’t execute correctly in the final third, it’s hard to beat a goalkeeper of that calibre.Twenty nine minutes into the match, Swanson sent a warning shot to the Dash backline: if you give me space, I can score from any angle. Swanson found herself in space just outside the box on the right hand side for Chicago and looked to swing the ball in. The ball drifted slightly and had it not been for Campbell athletically tipping it over, would’ve resulted in the opening goal.Houston didn’t heed that warning because early in stoppage time, Mal Swanson found the back of the net with a fantastic left foot finish, her weaker foot. A finish that would be just as impressive on her right foot.An errant back pass by Ramona Bachmann meant for Yūki Nagasato was picked off by Leilanni Nesbeth. The ball bounced off of Nagasato and straight into Swanson’s path, who had anticipated the turnover and tried to find some space for herself in case the ball came to her. It did and Swanson proceeded to take two touches before bending the ball into the top corner with her left foot.Three touches and Chicago found themselves ahead thanks to Mal Swanson, who in that moment, showed why she’s so incredible to watch.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">Left foot. Top corner. Mal Swanson <a href="https://t.co/7WLKRm3Fh4">pic.twitter.com/7WLKRm3Fh4</a>— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1809649557774745761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>What makes this goal all the more impressive is that it seems that ever since she came back from her injury, Swanson is now even better on her left foot. She was already a dangerous attacker with her stronger right foot but adding that ability with her left makes her not only more of a threat going forward, but also makes her unpredictable for any defender marking her.You can’t just usher her out to her left anymore, you now have to account that by doing so, she can both pass or shoot with great effect on that foot too.With the USWNT, Swanson has been used cutting inside of the left flank to great effect but now, she, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman (the likely starting three up top) can swap positions with ease. As a defender, as a backline, that’s a horrible situation to have to tactically plan for. You not only have to keep an eye on every runner in and around you, but you also now have to account for the fact that all three players can use both feet, to varying degrees of success.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ZUvyQ_0uHFOV6Q00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ZUvyQ_0uHFOV6Q00" width="1920" height="1280" >Add that to Swanson’s reading of the game, knowing where the ball might drop if her teammates win it in transition, it makes marking a player like Swanson even more difficult. More importantly, for a fan or a casual viewer, it makes watching her all of the more fun.During the game against Houston, the commentary team noted Swanson’s movement before she scored. They stated that she’s good at finding the right pocket from which to execute, which is true, and when you combine that with space in front of goal, Swanson is at her very best there.She’s shown that time and time again for both club and country, and after her long injury layoff, showed that although she missed roughly a year due to that injury, it only made her even better. Now she’s more poised in the final third, she understands the game even better, and no matter who you pair her with, she can combine with them to great effect.Those are the makings of a great player. A player not only has the athleticism to compete at the highest level, but also has the necessary skill set to push her team over the line if needed. Not many players in the world have that particular set of qualities. They may have one or the other, but not all in one package. Swanson has that and also added understanding spacing to her game. For any striker, any forward, that’s essential. It’s helped Chicago to their win today against the Dash and, if you’re a USWNT fan, it’s potentially going to help them medal this summer in Paris.</div></body>

NewsBreak

Mal Swanson’s sublime finish helps the Chicago Red Stars beat the Houston Dash

Mallory Swanson makes football look so easy sometimes. No matter who she’s up against, there will always be a moment that as a viewer, will make you sit up and applaud because of how good Swanson is. After not being able to find the back of the net for most of the first half against the Houston Dash, the Chicago Red Stars needed Swanson to do what she does best, and find a way to beat Jane Campbell in goal.