14 January 1996 - Chastain Is (A) Back

On 14 January 1996, the US women's national team crushed Russia 8-1 in a match that marked the return of Brandi Chastain after a 3-year absence.

Chastain had made 17 appearances for the national team from 1988 t0 1993 as a forward and was part of the team that won the 1991 Women's World Cup. But she dropped off the national radar in 1993 after contributing only 7 goals and 2 assists. She was called back in 1996, but as a defender.

Her first match back was the blowout win against Russia in the Torneio do Brasil, held in Campinas. Chastain was part of a stout backline that helped the US to a close victory over Brazil (3-2) and a shutout win over the Ukraine (6-0). They met Brazil again in the Final, winning on penalty kicks, 1-1 (3-2).

As a defender, Chastain secured her place in the national team, earning a total of 192 caps before retiring in 2004. In the time she scored over three times as many goals as defender (23) than she had as a forward, including her memorable penalty kick that won the 1999 Women's World Cup Final over China.