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Boston Wins 3-1 Over Washington In WPS Action
The Boston Breakers and Washington Freedom played scoreless for 45 minutes. But four goals in the second half turned into an impressive showing for the Breakers.
Apr 19, 2009 3:24:25 AM
A Women’s Professional Soccer game that started off slow, from a scoring standpoint, finished on a high note. Four second-half goals, including the league’s first penalty kick, ended in a 3-1 Boston Breakers win over the Washington Freedom.
A scoreless first half found the two teams deadlocked at 0-0 and in an even battle. Boston finished with five shots, while Washington finished with four.
“The first half was really substandard for both teams,” Freedom Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. “I think it was tentative, we didn’t have good pressure on the ball. The second half was better – a bounce here or there, you go ahead 2-1, I think the game’s probably over.”
But second half, both teams came to life. In the 54th minute, Kelly Smith became the hero again for Boston. Freedom goalkeeper Briana Scurry fouled Angela Hucles inside the box. The referee called for a penalty kick. Smith converted the league’s first penalty kick to give the Breakers a 1-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived. In the 60th minute, Rebecca Moros found Lori Lindsey, who snuck the ball past Boston goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill to tie the game at 1-1.
In the 72nd minute, Washington had a chance to take the lead again. Breakers defender Amy LePeilbet was called for a handball in the box. Abby Wambach stepped up to take the penalty kick attempt. Luckenbill dove low right and made the save.
Boston bounced right back into the game. In the 76th minute. Lilly made a run up field. She found Latham who crossed the ball into the box. Scurry cleared the play. Alex Scott found Latham, who headed it in for a 2-1 lead.
"That ball had eyes,” said Scurry, who got a finger on Latham’s header. “Latham got up well for it. It was like that in the first half, too, but fortunately we were able to get our heads on the ball."
Five minutes later, Hucles put the game out of reach. She blasted an unassisted shot from the edge of the penalty area into the upper corner of the goal for a 3-1 lead. Boston held on to improve to 2-1-0 on the season. Washington (0-2-1) is still in search of a win.
"There was some good and some bad,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “I thought our back line and our goalkeeper Luckenbill defended very well. Offensively we finished very well in the second half. I didn’t think we passed the ball as well as we normally have, and we gave a lot of balls away, but give credit to Washington for that.
“I’m proud of this team though. The best teams find a way to get results even when not playing their best, and I thought we did that tonight.”
- Goal.com
For more information on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
A scoreless first half found the two teams deadlocked at 0-0 and in an even battle. Boston finished with five shots, while Washington finished with four.
“The first half was really substandard for both teams,” Freedom Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. “I think it was tentative, we didn’t have good pressure on the ball. The second half was better – a bounce here or there, you go ahead 2-1, I think the game’s probably over.”
But second half, both teams came to life. In the 54th minute, Kelly Smith became the hero again for Boston. Freedom goalkeeper Briana Scurry fouled Angela Hucles inside the box. The referee called for a penalty kick. Smith converted the league’s first penalty kick to give the Breakers a 1-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived. In the 60th minute, Rebecca Moros found Lori Lindsey, who snuck the ball past Boston goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill to tie the game at 1-1.
In the 72nd minute, Washington had a chance to take the lead again. Breakers defender Amy LePeilbet was called for a handball in the box. Abby Wambach stepped up to take the penalty kick attempt. Luckenbill dove low right and made the save.
Boston bounced right back into the game. In the 76th minute. Lilly made a run up field. She found Latham who crossed the ball into the box. Scurry cleared the play. Alex Scott found Latham, who headed it in for a 2-1 lead.
"That ball had eyes,” said Scurry, who got a finger on Latham’s header. “Latham got up well for it. It was like that in the first half, too, but fortunately we were able to get our heads on the ball."
Five minutes later, Hucles put the game out of reach. She blasted an unassisted shot from the edge of the penalty area into the upper corner of the goal for a 3-1 lead. Boston held on to improve to 2-1-0 on the season. Washington (0-2-1) is still in search of a win.
"There was some good and some bad,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “I thought our back line and our goalkeeper Luckenbill defended very well. Offensively we finished very well in the second half. I didn’t think we passed the ball as well as we normally have, and we gave a lot of balls away, but give credit to Washington for that.
“I’m proud of this team though. The best teams find a way to get results even when not playing their best, and I thought we did that tonight.”
- Goal.com
For more information on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
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