Mallory Swanson scored an 86th-minute equaliser as the USWNT came from two goals down to draw 2–2 with world champions Spain on Tuesday 13 October. The goal at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, was her first for her country since she won the 2024 Olympic final, according to U.S. Soccer.
Alexia Putellas and Salma Paralluelo put Spain 2–0 up inside 32 minutes, before Ashley Sanchez pulled one back early in the second half. The draw ended a two-match series after Spain won the first game 2–0 in Washington, D.C., three days earlier.
How the Mallory Swanson USWNT Comeback Unfolded
First, Putellas tapped in a low cross from Clara Serrajordi in the 27th minute. The goal came in her 150th appearance for Spain, which makes her the first Spain player to reach that milestone.
Five minutes later, Putellas turned provider. Paralluelo pounced on a loose pass from goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and her shot went in off the underside of the bar, Philadelphia Soccer Now reported.
However, the USWNT came out sharper after the break. Sanchez beat Ona Batlle and finished into the far corner in the 49th minute, her first international goal since July 2022, U.S. Soccer said.
Then came the late twist. Michelle Cooper controlled a long ball from debutant Kate Del Fava and laid it off, and Swanson turned to shoot into the corner from about 16 yards, the Associated Press reported.
In total, 18,648 fans watched the game. Spain had 15 shots to the USA’s 14, but the hosts had six on target to Spain’s four.
Why Swanson’s Goal Meant So Much
Swanson had not played for the USWNT for 710 days before this camp. She gave birth to her daughter, Josie, in November 2025, and returned off the bench in Washington on 10 October, U.S. Soccer said.
That appearance made her the 19th mother to play for the USWNT. On Tuesday, she became the 12th mother to score for the team, and the goal was her 39th in 105 games.
Her last goal for her country was the winner in the 1–0 Olympic final against Brazil in Paris in August 2024. Before that, she missed the 2023 World Cup after tearing her patellar tendon.
Club form has been hard to find in 2026. She has scored twice for the Chicago Stars, who sit bottom of the NWSL.
After the game, Swanson sounded relieved. “It’s nice to get that first one out of the way,” she told reporters, according to The IX.
What Emma Hayes Said
Head coach Emma Hayes praised her side’s response. She told reporters her substitutes were “fearless”, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Hayes also explained her plan for Swanson, who came on in the 61st minute. “I didn’t think she was quite ready for 45,” she said, according to The IX.
She was clear about the gap that remains, though. “They’re the best team in the world,” Hayes said of Spain.
Spain’s View
Spain coach Sonia Bermúdez called the two games a positive experience, news agency EFE reported. However, she admitted her team were quite disorganised in the second half on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the result keeps Spain’s strong record intact. The 2–0 win in Washington was only their second ever against the USWNT, and the all-time series now stands at three US wins, two Spain wins and a draw.
What the Spain Series Means for Mallory Swanson and the USWNT
Hayes has used 46 players in 2026, a programme record for a calendar year. Two of them, Del Fava and Pietra Tordin, made their debuts on Tuesday.
For Mallory Swanson, the USWNT return could not have come at a better time, because that experimentation has a deadline. The Concacaf W Championship, which doubles as qualifying for the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, begins in Texas in November.
The USWNT face El Salvador in the quarter-finals on Friday 27 November in Mansfield, U.S. Soccer confirmed. A win there would book a place in Brazil 2027.
Read our report on Spain beating the USWNT 2–0 in Washington, and our Women’s World Cup 2027 guide for every qualified team.
Is Swanson back to her best in time for the World Cup? Tell us what you think in the comments.
