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Goal.com WPS Player Of The Week: Marta, FC Gold Pride
Even with nothing to play for, having already clinched the top spot in WPS, Marta and the Gold Pride came out and destroyed the Beat in Atlanta. Because of her two goals and constant opportunities created, Marta is this week's top player.
Aug 31, 2010 8:07:00 PM
Not a lot has gone wrong for FC Gold Pride in its 2010 campaign. A lot of that has to do with the addition of Marta.
In 2009, FC Gold Pride scored a mere 17 goals en route to its last-place finish. Now in 2010, with last year's leading scorer and MVP -- not to mention four time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year -- the Pride's scoring is up.
Leading the way in their potent offense is Marta, who now tops WPS with as many goals as the Pride had all last season, 17.
She got there with two goals against the Atlanta Beat on Saturday night's 6-1 demolishing of the expansion club. In addition to her brace, Marta, who wasn't credited with an assist, was the helper in Camille Abily's goal as well as a couple others that required great saves by Hope Solo.
For that, Marta is Goal.com's week 20 top player.
Not only were Marta's goals impressive, but they were extremely important. Gold Pride was up 2-0 before the Beat cut the lead in half to 2-1 with an Eniola Aluko goal in the 65th minute.
As Marta tends to do, she stepped up when her club needed her most. As the momentum was shifting in Atlanta's favor, Marta scored just one minute later, upping the lead to 3-1; four minutes after that, Marta made it 4-1 and out of reach.
Also receiving consideration for this week's top WPS player was the Washington Freedom's Abby Wambach who, like Marta, netted a pair of goals. Wambach's pair came in her club's 2-1 win over Sky Blue FC.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
In 2009, FC Gold Pride scored a mere 17 goals en route to its last-place finish. Now in 2010, with last year's leading scorer and MVP -- not to mention four time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year -- the Pride's scoring is up.
Leading the way in their potent offense is Marta, who now tops WPS with as many goals as the Pride had all last season, 17.
She got there with two goals against the Atlanta Beat on Saturday night's 6-1 demolishing of the expansion club. In addition to her brace, Marta, who wasn't credited with an assist, was the helper in Camille Abily's goal as well as a couple others that required great saves by Hope Solo.
For that, Marta is Goal.com's week 20 top player.
Not only were Marta's goals impressive, but they were extremely important. Gold Pride was up 2-0 before the Beat cut the lead in half to 2-1 with an Eniola Aluko goal in the 65th minute.
As Marta tends to do, she stepped up when her club needed her most. As the momentum was shifting in Atlanta's favor, Marta scored just one minute later, upping the lead to 3-1; four minutes after that, Marta made it 4-1 and out of reach.
Also receiving consideration for this week's top WPS player was the Washington Freedom's Abby Wambach who, like Marta, netted a pair of goals. Wambach's pair came in her club's 2-1 win over Sky Blue FC.
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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