LOS ANGELES SOL 1-0 SKY BLUE FC

Gooaalll!

The Los Angeles Sol defeated Sky Blue FC by a 1-0 margin on Friday night at The Home Depot Center. A strike from Brazilian forward Marta was the difference as Los Angeles won its second straight match against their cross-country rivals.
The Sol nearly opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Aya Miyama's low shot slipped through Sky Blue goalkeeper Jenni Branam's hands and squirted to Aly Wagner on the end line, but her rebound went untouched across the goal mouth and Sky Blue cleared it out of danger.
Their next chance came in the 21st minute, as forward Han Duan played a low ball perfectly to Wagner's right foot just inside the penalty area, but Wagner's shot flew wide and high of the goal. Neither team threatened again in the first half and the game was scoreless after 45 minutes.

The second half was a more even battle and it appeared as if Sky Blue FC would get the draw on the road against the league leaders.Sky Blue had a good scoring chance in the 73rd minute when Heather O’Reilly served a cross into the box from the right side and Natasha Kai rose up to head the ball, but her effort was cleared off the line at the right post by the Sol’s Liz Bogus.
The next chance fell to the Sol and Marta.After collecting a long ball from Camille Abily at the top of the penalty area,she was just onside. She split two defenders and put her shot past a sprawling Jenni Branam who had come out to block the shot.

On the 84th minute Kai was stretchered of after she collided with Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc. It looked like a serious injury.

In the closing moments of stoppage time, Meghan Schnur had a golden opportunity to tie the match. A misplay on a cross by the Sol fell right to Schnur, who had ventured forward after playing left back for most of the game, but her awkward shot rolled harmlessly past the left post from six yards out. Win Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Sol Head Coach Abner Rogers
"It was a close battle and each team had opportunities, we had better opportunities in the first half, but we just didn't capitalize. But, at the end of the game, we scored the goal that mattered."

"We had a great fan base tonight; the fans really got to see an exciting match and we were able to reward them with three points."

Los Angeles Sol Forward Marta
"Even though it was an individual play that I scored the goal on, it was the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of my teammates."

"We have a lot of players who are just getting used to one another, the goals will come.

Sky Blue FC Head Coach Ian Sawyers
"Overall, we were unlucky not to come away with a win. The difference was Marta's breakaway that led to the only goal of the game."

"We didn't play well in the first half, so we made some adjustments at halftime and dominated a large part of the second half."

"Overall, we are disappointed, but the team played well."

Lineups:

Los Angeles Sol: Karina LeBlanc; Brittany Bock, Allison Falk, Martina Franko, Stephanie Cox; Camille Abily, Shannon Boxx (c), Aya Miyama, Aly Wagner (61: Liz Bogus); Han Duan, Marta.

Sky Blue FC: Jenni Branam; Christie Rampone (c), Anita Asante, Megan Schnur, Julianne Sitch; Kelly Parker, Collette McCallum (58: Yael Averbuch), Keeley Dowling; Natasha Kai (84: Jen Buczkowski), Heather O'Reilly, Rosana (67: Kasey White).