At long last, Christen Press is back on the field.
The forward entered Thursday’s match against the San Diego Wave in the NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup, making her first appearance since tearing her ACL in June 2022.
Press subbed on in the 89th minute, replacing Katie Johnson up front. Paramount+’s broadcast team noted that Angel City coach Becki Tweed told them in a pre-match interview that Press could be expected to play no more than 10 minutes.
The match would finish in a scoreless draw, with ACFC claiming two points by winning the penalty-kick tiebreaker 5-3. Press would convert a penalty in the shootout, tucking away Angel City’s second spot kick.
The result was enough for Angel City to clinch the top spot in Group B, with the LA-based club securing a place in Tuesday’s Summer Cup semifinal doubleheader in Kansas City.
The forward most recently played for the U.S. women’s national team at the Olympics in 2021. Overall, Press has has made 155 appearances for the USWNT and is ninth all-time in program history with 64 goals scored.
🚨 CP23 CHECKING IN 🚨
Patiently waiting 781 days for this moment pic.twitter.com/J5Fhl6CnV6
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 2, 2024
Press’ injury was followed by a number of setbacks, as the 35-year-old revealed last summer that she was forced to undergo a fourth surgery on the issue.
Press returned to training with Angel City in June, and came on Thursday at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif. in a major milestone.
Press played in eight games with Angel City in 2022, the club’s inaugural season, scoring two goals before suffering her knee injury.
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