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Played
August 21, 2010 5:00 PM EDT
Veteran Memorial Stadium, New Britain, CT
Attendance: 4071
August 21, 2010 5:00 PM EDT
Veteran Memorial Stadium, New Britain, CT
Attendance: 4071
Atlanta Beat Holds Off Late Surge, Downs Boston Breakers
After getting hold of a three-goal lead, the Atlanta Beat held on to top the Boston Breakers on Saturday night.
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
It was a wild second half at Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain, Conn., but the Atlanta Beat, after jumping to a 3-0 lead, were able to hold off the late push by the home side Boston Breakers, 3-2.
Atlanta (5-10-5, 20 points) got off to a quick lead, courtesy of a Lori Chalupny 11th minute goal where she deked Kacey Moore before beating keeper Alyssa Naeher.
That was all the scoring that the 4,071 in attendance would see. But in the second half, the two star-studded sides put on an offensive show.
Eniola Aluko came off the bench for Atlanta in the second half and had her best game of recent memory. In the 66th minute, Aluko put her club up 2-0.
A week ago, the Beat got out to a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia Independence only to lose 3-2 in the end.
But on this night, Atlanta wouldn't blow its lead. Seven minutes later, Aluko took a pass from Angie Kerr and slammed it home for a 3-0 lead.
Boston (8-7-5, 29 points), which had been 7-1-1 since the All-Star Game, didn't give up. Lindsay Tarpley got Boston on the board in the 87th minute, beating Hope Solo to cut the lead to 3-1.
And in stoppage time, Kristine Lilly took advantage of a Solo miscue and cut the Beat lead to 3-2. But just after the Lilly goal, the final whistle blew.
With the result, Boston remains in third place, four points ahead of Washington; five points behind Philadelphia for second. Atlanta kept its slim playoff hopes alive. Still in last place, the Beat are five points out of a playoff spot with four games remaining.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Atlanta (5-10-5, 20 points) got off to a quick lead, courtesy of a Lori Chalupny 11th minute goal where she deked Kacey Moore before beating keeper Alyssa Naeher.
That was all the scoring that the 4,071 in attendance would see. But in the second half, the two star-studded sides put on an offensive show.
Eniola Aluko came off the bench for Atlanta in the second half and had her best game of recent memory. In the 66th minute, Aluko put her club up 2-0.
A week ago, the Beat got out to a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia Independence only to lose 3-2 in the end.
But on this night, Atlanta wouldn't blow its lead. Seven minutes later, Aluko took a pass from Angie Kerr and slammed it home for a 3-0 lead.
Boston (8-7-5, 29 points), which had been 7-1-1 since the All-Star Game, didn't give up. Lindsay Tarpley got Boston on the board in the 87th minute, beating Hope Solo to cut the lead to 3-1.
And in stoppage time, Kristine Lilly took advantage of a Solo miscue and cut the Beat lead to 3-2. But just after the Lilly goal, the final whistle blew.
With the result, Boston remains in third place, four points ahead of Washington; five points behind Philadelphia for second. Atlanta kept its slim playoff hopes alive. Still in last place, the Beat are five points out of a playoff spot with four games remaining.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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