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Carli Lloyd’s Legendary Career Is Brought To An End By Mallory Pugh

Mallory Pugh is back.

After playing an ever-present role in Chicago’s regular season campaign — second most minutes, second most goals, joint-most assists — Pugh’s resurgent year continued on Sunday with her biggest strike yet: the game-winner against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL playoff quarterfinals.

It wasn’t always pretty — Chicago finished with just 58% pass accuracy — but the Red Stars’ defense stymied Gotham’s formidable front three of Carli Lloyd, Midge Purce and Ifeoma Onumonu, while Pugh delivered the game-winner in the 61st-minute with an unstoppable one-time effort curled into the far corner.   

Winning is obviously infectious after Pugh was at Game 6 of the World Series to support boyfriend Dansby Swanson. The Atlanta shortstop was at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois for the game.  

This proved the final match of Lloyd’s illustrious career. The USWNT legend was booked in the 72nd minute for a foul that reflected Gotham’s frustrations in attack — Sarah Gorden and Tierna Davidson are going to make things difficult for Portland in the semifinals next weekend.    

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