WASHINGTON FREEDOM 1 - 1 CHICAGO RED STARS

In front of over 5,000 fans at the Maryland Soccerplex the Washington Freedom scored their first goal of the WPS. It could have and should have been more though if it wasn't for the heroics of the Chicago Red Stars defence.Lindsey Tarpley(pictured top) opened the scoring for the visitors in the 29th minute as she raced on to a through ball by Marian Dalmy and shot a looping shot to the far post beating Briana Scurry. It was a well taken goal by Tarpley her 2nd in the league but you have to wonder the positioning of Scurry.
Despite the rain the crowd was enthusiastic and roared on the Freedom get a goal. They played much better than their first game against LA Sol but much of their good play came from French star Sonia Bompastor who struck ball after ball into the middle from both sides of the pitch looking for the forwards to get on to. Abby Wambach again missing some good openings. Chicago starting without Cristiane struggled to get going in midfield. The combination of Carli Lloyd, Tarpley and Brittany Klein in midfield didn't work. All offensive players there was no one that could get the ball and settle down the midfield. All to often passes went astray. Lloyd particularly finding it difficult operating as a defensive midfielder.
In the 2nd half Washington started brightly. Japan's Homare Sawa started seeing more of the ball and putting the Red Stars defence under pressure.
It was in the 54th minute when a freekick on Chicago's left just outside the box was swung in left footed by Bompastor and met by centre-back Becky Sauerbrunn (pictured,left). It seemed like everyone was paying attention to Wambach but nobody ran with Sauerbrunn as she met the ball.
Red Stars Captain Frida Ostberg was sent off for a 2nd bookable offence for bringing down striker Lisa DeVanna in the 63rd minute. From then on it was all out attack for the Freedom. Chicago's backline of GK Caroline Jonsson, Scottish international Ifeoma Dieke, Nikki Kryzsik and Marian Dalmy were brilliant. The outstanding Jonsson getting man of the match with several vital saves from Wambach and DeVanna. Dieke was a rock i was impressed. Cristiane mad an appearance in the 2nd half and did well in the circumstances. Even though Chicago were down to 10 she still caused the defence problems and kept them occupied.
Washington although played better should feel disappointed they didn't capitalise more on the situation. Still looking for more from Sawa. Scurry needs to be more confident.
Chicago should be pleased to escape with a point but Emma Hayes needs to look at the midfield. 2 games down now and still there are question marks on that area.

LINEUPS:

WASH: Scurry, Singer, Whitehill, Sauerbrunn, Long, Janss (Gilbeau, 58), Sawa, Lindsey (Moros, 68), Bonpastor, Wambach, De Vanna (Zimmeck, 84)

CHI: Jonsson, Dalmy, Krzysik, Dieke, Ostberg (Ejected 63), Klein, Lloyd, Tarpley (Spilger, 82), Carney, Rapinoe (Cristiane, 58), Masar (Igwe, 65)