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Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Washington Freedom 0-1 Philadelphia Independence: Amy Rodriguez Sends Philly To Semifinals
A Rodriguez goal in the 120th minute catapulted Philadelphia to a WPS Super Semi-final match-up with the Boston Breakers.
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
It took 120 minutes, but Amy Rodriguez and the Philadelphia Independence made their home-field advantage pay off. In front of 2,378 fans at John A. Farrell Stadium in West Chester, Penn., Rodriguez beat Washington Freedom keeper Ashlyn Harris to the upper 90 in the waning seconds of extra time to give third-seeded Philadelphia a 1-0 win over the fourth-seeded Freedom in the WPS First Round on Sunday afternoon.
Philadelphia, who was on a four-game losing streak entering the play-offs, now have to take on the second-seeded Boston Breakers in the WPS Super Semi-final on Thursday night.
Here's how the action unfolded to give the Independence its first win since Aug. 15, eliminating Washington in the process -- the Freedom's second-straight opening round post-season loss.
First Half
There were clear playoff jitters in the early going with both clubs turning the ball over in the midfield. Washington got the first chance of the match when Abby Wambach won a corner but just headed it wide of the target in the third minute.
Four minutes later, the Independence got its first chance. Lianne Sanderson sent Holmfridur Magnusdottir in behind the defence on the left flank. With only Ashlyn Harris to beat, Magnusdottir hit one for the near post, but Harris batted it out.
Another 10 minutes went by before either team got a chance at goal. Philadelphia got that in the 17th minute when Amy Rodriguez received the ball on a set piece and whipped a cross that the Freedom was able to clear from danger.
The best chance of the half came in the 26th minute off the boot of Sanderson. Allison Falk directed a header into open space in the box off an Independence free kick. Sanderson beat Harris to the ball and tried to flick it past the Freedom keeper, but it was blocked away.
And despite finding Wambach on a number of occasions, the Freedom could not mount any serious threat on Val Henderson in the Philadelphia goal, going into the locker room scoreless at the half.
Second Half
Magnusdottir created the first chance of the second half, taking the ball down the left flank in the 51st minute. She bent in a cross to Rodriguez in the box, but Anita Asante cleared it out for a corner that went for not.
A minute later, Philadelphia built up possession and then Jen Buczkowski ran onto a loose ball and drilled a shot that went just high of the bar.
Lori Lindsey took a corner for Philadelphia in the 54th minute. Harris appeared to have a beat on it, but it went through her hands and pinged off Wambach's head, but the Freedom defence recovered and cleared it out of the box.
Philadelphia continued to put the pressure of the Freedom goal in the 56th minute. Tina DiMartino freed herself in the Washington box and squared a ball to Rodriguez who took a shot, but Harris came up with a big save.
Rodriguez again was open behind the defence, but as she trapped the long ball and proceeded to put it in the back of the net, it was called back when she was whistled for a hand ball.
In the 79th minute, both Lindsey and Rodriguez nearly put the Independence on top. Lindsey took a back pass and hit a shot that Harris leaped to bat away from goal. On the rebound, Rodriguez hit one first time with Harris on the ground, but it was poorly struck and saved.
Philadelphia's frustration continued in the 88th minute. DiMartino had the ball in the box from 10 yards out with only Harris in front of her. Whitehill broke up the possession before her shot, but it went right to Rodriguez whose shot hit the post and right to Lindsey. Lindsey's shot was deflected out for a corner.
Then in the 90th minute, DiMartino got a pass from Danesha Adams inside the box but her shot sailed over the bar.
Extra Time
Washington finally had a legitimate chance in the 96th minute when Lene Mykjaland got behind the Independence defense. But before Mykjaland could release a shot, Nikki Krzysik tapped the ball away for Henderson to pounce on.
Philadelphia's first real chance of extra time came in the 108th minute when Magnusdottir took a free kick from about 22 yards out. Her attempt, however, went over the bar.
Rodriguez again had a great opportunity with the ball in the box, back to goal. She turned and hit a shot that went wide of goal in the 118th minute.
But, with time ticking down and penalty kicks looming, Rodriguez figured out Harris in the 120th minute.
DiMartino sent a ball into the box and Rodriguez quickly trapped with her right, fired top 90 with her left, beat Harris and won the game for the Independence.
Philadelphia, who was on a four-game losing streak entering the play-offs, now have to take on the second-seeded Boston Breakers in the WPS Super Semi-final on Thursday night.
Here's how the action unfolded to give the Independence its first win since Aug. 15, eliminating Washington in the process -- the Freedom's second-straight opening round post-season loss.
First Half
There were clear playoff jitters in the early going with both clubs turning the ball over in the midfield. Washington got the first chance of the match when Abby Wambach won a corner but just headed it wide of the target in the third minute.
Four minutes later, the Independence got its first chance. Lianne Sanderson sent Holmfridur Magnusdottir in behind the defence on the left flank. With only Ashlyn Harris to beat, Magnusdottir hit one for the near post, but Harris batted it out.
Another 10 minutes went by before either team got a chance at goal. Philadelphia got that in the 17th minute when Amy Rodriguez received the ball on a set piece and whipped a cross that the Freedom was able to clear from danger.
The best chance of the half came in the 26th minute off the boot of Sanderson. Allison Falk directed a header into open space in the box off an Independence free kick. Sanderson beat Harris to the ball and tried to flick it past the Freedom keeper, but it was blocked away.
And despite finding Wambach on a number of occasions, the Freedom could not mount any serious threat on Val Henderson in the Philadelphia goal, going into the locker room scoreless at the half.
Second Half
Magnusdottir created the first chance of the second half, taking the ball down the left flank in the 51st minute. She bent in a cross to Rodriguez in the box, but Anita Asante cleared it out for a corner that went for not.
A minute later, Philadelphia built up possession and then Jen Buczkowski ran onto a loose ball and drilled a shot that went just high of the bar.
Lori Lindsey took a corner for Philadelphia in the 54th minute. Harris appeared to have a beat on it, but it went through her hands and pinged off Wambach's head, but the Freedom defence recovered and cleared it out of the box.
Philadelphia continued to put the pressure of the Freedom goal in the 56th minute. Tina DiMartino freed herself in the Washington box and squared a ball to Rodriguez who took a shot, but Harris came up with a big save.
Rodriguez again was open behind the defence, but as she trapped the long ball and proceeded to put it in the back of the net, it was called back when she was whistled for a hand ball.
In the 79th minute, both Lindsey and Rodriguez nearly put the Independence on top. Lindsey took a back pass and hit a shot that Harris leaped to bat away from goal. On the rebound, Rodriguez hit one first time with Harris on the ground, but it was poorly struck and saved.
Philadelphia's frustration continued in the 88th minute. DiMartino had the ball in the box from 10 yards out with only Harris in front of her. Whitehill broke up the possession before her shot, but it went right to Rodriguez whose shot hit the post and right to Lindsey. Lindsey's shot was deflected out for a corner.
Then in the 90th minute, DiMartino got a pass from Danesha Adams inside the box but her shot sailed over the bar.
Extra Time
Washington finally had a legitimate chance in the 96th minute when Lene Mykjaland got behind the Independence defense. But before Mykjaland could release a shot, Nikki Krzysik tapped the ball away for Henderson to pounce on.
Philadelphia's first real chance of extra time came in the 108th minute when Magnusdottir took a free kick from about 22 yards out. Her attempt, however, went over the bar.
Rodriguez again had a great opportunity with the ball in the box, back to goal. She turned and hit a shot that went wide of goal in the 118th minute.
But, with time ticking down and penalty kicks looming, Rodriguez figured out Harris in the 120th minute.
DiMartino sent a ball into the box and Rodriguez quickly trapped with her right, fired top 90 with her left, beat Harris and won the game for the Independence.
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