LOS ANGELES SOL V WASHINGTON FREEDOM

Well the first match of the inaugural season has come & gone. The Sol win an entertaining game 2-0. Goals coming from defender Allison Falk and French international midfielder Camille Abily.

The game started of quick with LA playing the better game with their midfield of Shannon Boxx, Aya Miyama & Camille Abily dominating. Washington Freedom players looked like they had stage fright. The first goal came in 6 mins when Japanese star Miyama delivered a perfect ball into the area for Rookie defender Falk to tangle with GK Briana Scurry & head the ball into the net. The Freedom claimed it was a foul on their keeper. From looking at the replays and pictures sometimes i think it was a goal and sometimes not but hey Allison Falk has now officially gone done as the first woman to score in WPS. The ball was taken out of play & Falk will sign it & it will go into the Hall Of Fame. LA continued to make chances with Marta showing some of her skills and keeping the Freedom defence occupied although they dealt with her ok throughout the game.
Toward the end of the half Washington started to put some plays together. Most of that was coming from their left where French international Sonia Bompastor was was being a menace.She put in several balls from the left for striker Wambach. One where Wambach made a great connection but Sol's GK Karina Le Blanc coming of her line to make a great save. To me she was the Freedoms best player of the whole game. Her crossing was on point. For the 2nd half LA coach Abner made a tactical change to contain her.

2nd half - Washington had more of the play where they were pushing forward trying to get the equalizer. The problem they had was Abby was pretty much up there on her own. And all balls went to her. As the season goes on i expect the Freedom to have a plan B, where other players start taking chances and making plays. As much as Washington were pushing forward LA's defence held up with the impressive Brittany Bock at CB. Bock is not a defender per say. She is a combative midfielder that can do a good job as a forward but i guess because Abby was the opposition Coach Abner decided he needed a tough person at the back. She was great.
Freedom nearly scored from a scramble in the box when Lori Lindsey struck the ball from just inside the area only to see the ball hit the right upright on 63 mins.

LA Sol clinched the game from a counterattack when Bock intercepted a cross from a Freedom player and passed the ball to Marta who at first tried a slide ruler pass through to substitute forward Christie Welsh where it came of her heel , Marta picked up the ball again and continued her momentum towards goal at pace attracting the 3 defenders to her. She passed the ball to the oncoming midfielder Abily who was unmarked on the right. Abily took one touch to get closer to goal and then chipped Scurry from just outside the penalty box. It was a sweet goal with great technique from the French woman. A great way to end the game. But you have got to ask what were the defenders thinking and why did no midfield player track Abily's run.She started of on the edge of her own box. I guess that is the Marta effect. The same thing happened in the 2008 Olympic Semi-Final game Brazil v Germany. Marta had the ball & was running on a breakaway towards goal all the German defenders went to her... yes all 4.. but they left Christiane and no midfielder tracked her. Marta passed the ball to Christian who was unmarked and she slotted the ball home.

Overall the game was entertaining i enjoyed watching it. I have no doubt the play will get better as the teams get more games in. My MVP choice was tough i could pick quite a few but i will go with Brittany Bock..she was awesome. Miyama had a good game as well. Best Freedom player by a mile was Sonia Bompastor. Best play Camile Abily's goal. Perfect execution. She ran all the way up the pitch and had composure to lob the keeper.

Line-ups

LA Sol - 23- Le Blanc , 2-Fletcher,11-Bock, 3-Falk , 14-Cox, 20-Abily, 7-Boxx, 22-Makoski,8-Miyami , 10- Marta, 9-Duan

Washington Freedom - 1-Scurry, 21-Singer,4-Whitehill, 22-Sauberman ,11- Janss,9-Long, 6- Lindsey, 10-Sawa ,8- Bompastor,25-Zimmeck, 20-Wambach.