WPS PREVIEW WEEK 9

With the friendly game between USA and CANADA taking place next week all the WPS teams will see many changes in the starting line-ups.


New girl Sessleman


Washington Freedom vs Sky Blue FC Sat May 23 4.30pm ET

Washington having got a a point away to Boston Breakers look to get all 3 pts this time against Sky Blue. Again without Abby Wambach due to national team duty they will look to the impressive forward line of Lisa DeVanna,Allie Long and Rebecca Moros. Midfielder Joanna Lohman will also miss the match after she was suspended for an elbow on Alex Scott. Freedom GK Erin McLeod will continue in goal as she was not called up for Canada.
The Sky Blue line-up could have several changes due to national team call-ups and injury. Captian Christie Rampone, Heather O'Reilly and Canada's Kelly Parker(national teams) and strikers Natasha KAi and Sarah Walsh are doubtful due to injury. Lauren Sesselman a forward was signed this week and could make a dramatic impact on the game. Anita Asante will just have returned from England camp also.
Both teams need the 3 pts to get out of the bottom of the league and to get some momentum going.
My Prediction 2-1 Home win for Washington




Samba flair!


Chicago Red Stars vs Saint Louis Athletic Sat May 23 8.30pm ET

Saint Louis Athletica travels to Toyota Park this Saturday evening to face their closest league rivals the Chicago Red Stars.The matchup is the second of the year between these two clubs. Chicago beat Saint Louis 1-0 on April 4 to spoil Athletica’s home opener before a crowd of 5,008. A Lindsay Tarpley goal in the 78th minute of the match was the game winner.
Athletica enters this contest on an upbeat note having garnered five points from their last three games.Chicago has dropped two games in a row and not scored in those games will be looking to get back on track to keep up with LA & Boston.
Both teams will be without their important players.Chicago will be missing starters Carli Lloyd, Lindsay Tarpley, Megan Rapinoe, and Marian Dalmy. All of whom are on duty with the USWNT.Athletica will be missing team captain Lori Chalupny and goalkeeper Hope Solo, both are also on duty with the USWNT. Athletica will also be without Melissa Tancredi, who is on national team duty for her native Canada, and Kia McNeill, who is serving a one game suspension.
There could be up to 8 new faces starting for both teams. Athletica could start with new players Christie Welsh and Kendal Fletcher who were traded from LA Sol last weekend.
Chicago still has Cristiane who was showing some silky skills last weekend despite the defeat.
My prediction 1 - o win for Chicago






Brazil v Brazil!

FC Gold Pride vs Los Angeles Sol Sun May 24 7.00pm ET FSC

A rematch which has been billed as Battle of the Samba Queens - Formiga v Marta. FC Gold Pride are expecting a sell out crowd at Buck Shaw Stadium as Marta and the LA Sol renew their in-state rivalry with the Pride. WPS standings are at stake as third place FC Gold Pride (10 points) look to leapfrog the second ranked Boston Breakers (11 points) and close the gap on the LA Sol out in front on 14pts.
Both teams will be missing a number of players due to the US v Canada international game.
Gold Pride will be missing Rachel Buehler, GK Nicole Barnhart and Canadian striker Christie Sinclair. LA Sol will miss Captain Shannon Boxx, GK Karina LeBlanc and the defenders Brittany Bock and Canadian Martina Franko. Both teams will play their back-up keepers of Allison Whitworth (Pride) and Val Henderson (Sol). It will be a big game for both.Whitworth though you would think will have the more solid backline in front of her.
No matter what, it will be a big test for both teams.
My prediction a 2-2 draw