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Goal.com's WPS Player Of The Week: Marta, FC Gold Pride
Marta broke through the Breakers defense for two goals and a Gold Pride win.
May 17, 2010 6:16:00 PM
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
Through the first five weeks of play, FC Gold Pride’s most prized off season acquisition Marta was ascending her level of play to what everyone knows she’s capable of. With some flashes of brilliance, creating chances for teammates and scoring one goal herself, she was on the brink of breaking through.
“It was just a matter of time,” said Gold Pride coach Albertin Montoya. “She continues to get better everyday and her fitness level is almost where it needs to be.”
If she is only “almost” where she needs to be, then opponents in games seven and beyond should be trembling in their boots. In week six, the unfortunate victims of her supposed breakthrough were the Boston Breakers. Marta scored two first-half goals, leading her Pride to a 2-1 victory on the road.
“It’s hard to neutralize Marta,” said Boston Breakers coach Tony DiCicco. “We said we have to be good getting in behind, so we double-teamed her on the flanks and unfortunately she got in behind us twice and beat us there.”
And while it may give a coach sleepless nights trying to find ways to shut her down, for Marta to be on a coach’s side surely has a calming affect.
“(Marta) worked just as hard as all the other games she's played in,” said Gold Pride coach Albertin Montoya of arguably the WPS best player’s work ethic. “But (against Boston last weekend) she fortunately scored two great goals.”
Not only did Marta show off her finishing touch, she preceded each of her goals by showing off her blazing speed, getting behind the Breakers defense for one-on-one opportunities with keeper Ashley Phillips, which she easily put away.
Marta’s performance was much needed, with the Pride ailing from a couple injuries to key players -- Kelley O’Hara (foot) and Camille Abily (ankle) -- who were unable to make the trip to Boston. Montoya was excited that Marta’s clutch play could carry the team, which didn’t play as well as in previous weeks.
“Huge,” said Montoya of the importance of Marta’s clutch play. “The team did not play as well as we had in the past few games, but Marta helped us in getting a big win in Boston.
“In the past few games her teammates have been scoring winning goals for us, and this time she took matters into her own hands and scored two good goals,” Montoya added. “That's what great players do. She gave us the lead and the rest of the team defended to the final whistle for the win.”
It was the Pride’s fifth consecutive win, which set a WPS record, surpassed by Marta’s old team, the defunct L.A. Sol, who won four straight from June 21 through July 5 of last year.
And with that, the Gold Pride sit pretty in first place in the WPS standings with 15 points, four points better than second-place Philadelphia Independence.
Other players considered for Week 6 honors, coming up short to the four-time FIFA Player of the Year winner, were Abby Wambach of the Washington Freedom, setting up one and scoring another in her club’s 2-0 win over Atlanta on the road, and Laura Kalmar of Sky Blue FC, who scored twice off Hope Solo in the team’s 2-2 tie with St. Louis.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
“It was just a matter of time,” said Gold Pride coach Albertin Montoya. “She continues to get better everyday and her fitness level is almost where it needs to be.”
If she is only “almost” where she needs to be, then opponents in games seven and beyond should be trembling in their boots. In week six, the unfortunate victims of her supposed breakthrough were the Boston Breakers. Marta scored two first-half goals, leading her Pride to a 2-1 victory on the road.
“It’s hard to neutralize Marta,” said Boston Breakers coach Tony DiCicco. “We said we have to be good getting in behind, so we double-teamed her on the flanks and unfortunately she got in behind us twice and beat us there.”
And while it may give a coach sleepless nights trying to find ways to shut her down, for Marta to be on a coach’s side surely has a calming affect.
“(Marta) worked just as hard as all the other games she's played in,” said Gold Pride coach Albertin Montoya of arguably the WPS best player’s work ethic. “But (against Boston last weekend) she fortunately scored two great goals.”
Not only did Marta show off her finishing touch, she preceded each of her goals by showing off her blazing speed, getting behind the Breakers defense for one-on-one opportunities with keeper Ashley Phillips, which she easily put away.
Marta’s performance was much needed, with the Pride ailing from a couple injuries to key players -- Kelley O’Hara (foot) and Camille Abily (ankle) -- who were unable to make the trip to Boston. Montoya was excited that Marta’s clutch play could carry the team, which didn’t play as well as in previous weeks.
“Huge,” said Montoya of the importance of Marta’s clutch play. “The team did not play as well as we had in the past few games, but Marta helped us in getting a big win in Boston.
“In the past few games her teammates have been scoring winning goals for us, and this time she took matters into her own hands and scored two good goals,” Montoya added. “That's what great players do. She gave us the lead and the rest of the team defended to the final whistle for the win.”
It was the Pride’s fifth consecutive win, which set a WPS record, surpassed by Marta’s old team, the defunct L.A. Sol, who won four straight from June 21 through July 5 of last year.
And with that, the Gold Pride sit pretty in first place in the WPS standings with 15 points, four points better than second-place Philadelphia Independence.
Other players considered for Week 6 honors, coming up short to the four-time FIFA Player of the Year winner, were Abby Wambach of the Washington Freedom, setting up one and scoring another in her club’s 2-0 win over Atlanta on the road, and Laura Kalmar of Sky Blue FC, who scored twice off Hope Solo in the team’s 2-2 tie with St. Louis.
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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