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Boston Breaks Into Second Place With 1-0 Win Over Freedom
Wednesday the Washington Freedom had a one-point lead over the Boston Breakers in the Women’s Professional Soccer standings. Ninety minutes changed that as Boston earned a 1-0 win and took over second place.
Jun 25, 2009 3:07:18 AM
Cambridge, Mass. – The Boston Breakers and Washington Freedom swapped standings Wednesday night. Christine Latham headed home a goal, which was good enough to give the Breakers a 1-0 win and move them into second place.
The Freedom didn’t make things easy on Boston, registering more shots than the home squad. Washington goalkeeper Erin McLeod made three saves on the night, despite giving up her first goal in three games. But the one big chance Boston had, they finished to earn their fifth win of the season.
Boston (5-4-3, 18 points) now has a two-point lead in the standings over Washington (4-4-4, 16 points). Both teams are off this weekend. The Freedom returns to action July 1st playing at the Chicago Red Stars. The Breakers head to New Jersey to play Sky Blue on July 4th.
First Half
The Breakers started the match by firing shots at goal. In the 16th minute, Amy Rodriguez rocketed a high shot toward goal. McLeod tipped it over for the save. Kelly Smith also applied pressure. She blasted two long shots toward goal, sending one out and the other wide. All the attempts got McLeod’s attention.
But before Washington could swing the momentum in their favor, the Breakers found the net. In the 37th minute a Washington Freedom player fouled Kelly Smith. Mitts crossed the freekick into Latahm on the right side of the net. Latham headed it into the opposite corner, giving her club the 1-0 advantage.
The Freedom had its best opportunity in the 44th minute, when Lori Lindsey shot the ball just wide left of goal.
"I thought the first half was probably our best soccer from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. Washington is a good team and we just didn’t let them play in the first half,” Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco said. “It’s hard because you want to be a little more cautious when you are leading, and they came out hard in the second half. They had some opportunities, and good teams are going to get opportunities."
Second Half
It looked as if Boston would take a 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Rodriguez found herself open with a clear shot on goal. She took it. McLeod dove to make the save, keeping her net clean. Boston almost struck again three minutes later. Smith made a run and sent the ball into the back of the net, past McLeod. The goal was ruled offside.
But in the second half, the Freedom mainly dominated. Washington out shot the home team 6-4. As time was running out the Washington players threw all they had at Boston. Abby Wambach, who tweaked her hamstring last week against Saint Louis, entered the match in the 55th minute to give the offense an extra push.
The Freedom had a couple of chances late in the match. Boston goalkeeper Ali Lipsher nearly let a goal slip past her when she deflected a shot. The players scrambled for control of the ball in the box. Alex Scott cleared it before a Freedom player could get on the end of it. And in the 89th minute, Homare Sawa almost got Washington on the board, when she blasted a shot toward goal. Lipsher juggled it but made the save, earning her second shutout in her third start of the year.
“Except for the [Los Angeles] Sol things are just getting tighter and tighter in the playoff race ,” Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra said. “This is a tough stretch for us. We had a good result in St. Louis and were looking to do the same tonight. Now we just need to get some rest, get some work in and get ready to go to Chicago next week and then host Los Angeles.”
Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer page.
The Freedom didn’t make things easy on Boston, registering more shots than the home squad. Washington goalkeeper Erin McLeod made three saves on the night, despite giving up her first goal in three games. But the one big chance Boston had, they finished to earn their fifth win of the season.
Boston (5-4-3, 18 points) now has a two-point lead in the standings over Washington (4-4-4, 16 points). Both teams are off this weekend. The Freedom returns to action July 1st playing at the Chicago Red Stars. The Breakers head to New Jersey to play Sky Blue on July 4th.
First Half
The Breakers started the match by firing shots at goal. In the 16th minute, Amy Rodriguez rocketed a high shot toward goal. McLeod tipped it over for the save. Kelly Smith also applied pressure. She blasted two long shots toward goal, sending one out and the other wide. All the attempts got McLeod’s attention.
But before Washington could swing the momentum in their favor, the Breakers found the net. In the 37th minute a Washington Freedom player fouled Kelly Smith. Mitts crossed the freekick into Latahm on the right side of the net. Latham headed it into the opposite corner, giving her club the 1-0 advantage.
The Freedom had its best opportunity in the 44th minute, when Lori Lindsey shot the ball just wide left of goal.
"I thought the first half was probably our best soccer from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. Washington is a good team and we just didn’t let them play in the first half,” Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco said. “It’s hard because you want to be a little more cautious when you are leading, and they came out hard in the second half. They had some opportunities, and good teams are going to get opportunities."
Second Half
It looked as if Boston would take a 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Rodriguez found herself open with a clear shot on goal. She took it. McLeod dove to make the save, keeping her net clean. Boston almost struck again three minutes later. Smith made a run and sent the ball into the back of the net, past McLeod. The goal was ruled offside.
But in the second half, the Freedom mainly dominated. Washington out shot the home team 6-4. As time was running out the Washington players threw all they had at Boston. Abby Wambach, who tweaked her hamstring last week against Saint Louis, entered the match in the 55th minute to give the offense an extra push.
The Freedom had a couple of chances late in the match. Boston goalkeeper Ali Lipsher nearly let a goal slip past her when she deflected a shot. The players scrambled for control of the ball in the box. Alex Scott cleared it before a Freedom player could get on the end of it. And in the 89th minute, Homare Sawa almost got Washington on the board, when she blasted a shot toward goal. Lipsher juggled it but made the save, earning her second shutout in her third start of the year.
“Except for the [Los Angeles] Sol things are just getting tighter and tighter in the playoff race ,” Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra said. “This is a tough stretch for us. We had a good result in St. Louis and were looking to do the same tonight. Now we just need to get some rest, get some work in and get ready to go to Chicago next week and then host Los Angeles.”
Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer page.
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