Soccer player who feared she would never walk again makes a miraculous return to the pitch
An Australian soccer player who broke her back during a game and faced the prospect of never playing football again has made a miraculous return to the pitch.
Hayley Raso, 24, broke three vertebrae in a vicious collision with an opposition goalkeeper while playing for Portland in the National Women's Soccer League in the United States.
The young attacker was carried off the field on a stretcher in severe pain after fracturing her back during the game in August.
Scroll down for video
Hayley Raso (pictured), 24, broke three vertebrae in a vicious collision with an opposition goalkeeper while playing for Portland in the National Women's Soccer League
The 24-year-old Australian international suffered a traumatic back injury, breaking three vertebrae in a sickening collision with an opposition goalkeeper
The young attacker was carried off the field on a stretcher in severe pain after fracturing the 'transverse processes of L2, L3 and L4' during the game in August
Raso made a remarkable return to the field on Thursday as a substitute in Australia's 2-0 win over New Zealand at the Cup of Nations in Sydney, and even managed to score a blind goal.
Just three minutes after coming off the bench late in the second half, she rounded a defender and drilled the ball into the net for an incredible return.
'I think it was just overwhelming for me,' she said of getting on the scoresheet.
'I'm just so excited to be out here playing again and to get a goal topped it all off.'
RELATED ARTICLES
Japan star Honda's soccer passion showing in Australia 
'Don't send me back!' Australia-based soccer player facing...
Share this article
ShareRaso's life crumbled when she was stretchered off the field in agony in August.
The 24-year-old instantly thought the worst and feared she'd never be able to walk again, let along continue to play the sport she loved.
Footage of the match shows Raso clashing with the goalkeeper awkwardly at high speed, with the keeper burying her knee deep into Raso's back.
'I can remember just saying: ''Help me, help me''. I knew that something bad had happened,' she told the ABC.
Raso made a remarkable return to the field on Thursday as a substitute in Australia's 2-0 win over New Zealand at the Cup of Nations in Sydney on Thursday
Raso's life crumbled when she was stretchered off the field in agony in August and said instantly knew the severity of the pain
Footage of the match show Raso clashing with the goalkeeper awkwardly at high speed, with the keeper burying her knee deep into Raso's back
Raso's teammates crowded around her as medical staff attempted to help the young player before she was put on a stretcher.
The 24-year-old said she vividly remembers that she couldn't feel her legs, and believed her dreams of making it to the World Cup and the Olympics were crushed.
'I couldn't do anything at that moment, I was just in so much pain, I couldn't move my body,' Raso said.
Following just a week in hospital, the young attacker was finally told the news she feared she'd never hear - she would recover.
The 24-year-old then began the slow process of learning how to walk again.
She went through a grueling rehabilitation process where she was first in a wheelchair and then began taking steps using a walking frame.
The young attacker had to learn how to walk again in rehab following just a week-and-a-half in hospital
The 24-year-old said she remembers vividly that her legs were numb and her World Cup dreams where crushed
She went through a grueling rehabilitation process where she was first in a wheelchair and then began taking steps using a walking frame
'I had a few episodes where I passed out because of the pain and I went into shock,' the young attacker said.
Incredibly, she recovered sufficiently to make her return to football for Brisbane Roar in late January before getting the call-up from Australia.
'This injury pushed me to my absolute limits,' she posted to Twitter recently.
'This whole journey was an extreme mental and physical battle. I didn't think I'd make it out, but I am so happy to start my next chapter.'
World governing body FIFA wished her well ahead of her comeback for the Matildas on Thursday.
'Great to see @HayleyRaso back on the international stage with @TheMatildas after a six-month injury absence,' it said.
Incredibly, she recovered sufficiently to make her return to football for Brisbane Roar in late January before getting the call-up from Australia
'This injury pushed me to my absolute limits,' The young player posted to Twitter recently
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKDeIKPbmtsZ4OksKSx0WanpZmpmr9ussSaqZ6cXaOyt7HRZq6apJtiuqK3xKxkpqGilrC2uM6uqmaqlanCs7qMqaCtm5hjtbW5yw%3D%3D