In an exciting WPS Sunday match, FC Gold Pride played the second place Saint Louis Athletica to a 1-1 tie, denying the home team's bid to clinch a post-season berth. The result of the must-win match does mark the end of the Pride's Inaugural Season playoff campaign, but the team didn't go down without a battle.
The Pride took control of the tempo in the first half, firing off six quality shots on goal, including a couple of close range opportunities that resulted in near misses.
Athletica, capitalized on one of their few opportunities in the half, scoring on a quick counter attack mounted in the 28th minute to put the home team up 1-0. Nikki Cross gave her team the first half lead, scoring the first goal of her WPS career, as she volleyed the ball into the back of the net on a low cross served from Kendall Fletcher.
Saint Louis had many quality chances to put the game away during the rest of the first half and through out the second half. Once again the story for Athletica would become not being able to find the goal to kill off the game. The best chances fell to Eniola Aluko in the 58th minute when she force Nicole Barnhart into a diving stop. Amanda Cinalli had a chance with a header in the 64th that Barnhart stopped and Aluko nearly made it 2-0 in the 84th minute on a cross from Lori Chalupny.
Christine Sinclair punished Athletica for their missed chances in the 88th minute getting equalising goal keeping Athletica from getting the three points they needed to secure a playoff spot.
Sinclair’s goal came from a Tina DiMartino cross that found Sinclair unmarked at the back post. Sinclair took one touch and drilled her shot home for a perfect finish.
The draw leaves the WPS Playoff picture wide open. Athletica remain in second place with 27 points and maintain their two-point margin over the Boston Breakers. The Breakers will visit Athletica next week for a Saturday August 1 tilt that could well decide who finishes second in the WPS.
The Pride will return to Buck Shaw Stadium to host the Washington Freedom on Saturday, August 1 at 3 p.m. Although the team's post season run is over, they can still play a role the WPS playoffs as they look to be the spoiler for teams sitting on the bubble of making the cut, including the Freedom who are currently locked in a battle with Sky Blue FC for the fourth place slot.
“We had a lot of chances, especially in the second half. We need more composure,” said Head Coach Jorge Barcellos “A counter attack on a one-on-one is not a chance you should lose on. Something that is simple has become hard for us. I don’t know why.”
FC Gold Pride Coach Alebertin Montoyo
"We had a lot of incredible opportunities to put the game away, it was nice to see Christine put one in the back of the net. It lifted our team, they saw that we could still do it and we fought till the very end. It was more like a track meet at the end of the game, both teams wanted the win. It was an exciting finish."
"Without a doubt, we are going to go out there and keep improving," Montoya said of his game plan for the final three games of the season. "We are going to go out strong and go out to win our next three games. We believe we can, as we have all season long. We've been unfortunate at times, but we're going to go out here and play for our fans and play for each other. You'll see a great performance from us in the next three games."
Lineups:
Saint Louis Athletica: Hope Solo; Elise Weber, Sara Larsson (Stephanie Logterman 46), Tina Ellertson, Kia McNeill (Melissa Tancredi 73); Kendall Fletcher,Angie Woznuk,Lori Chalupny (C), Amanda Cinalli; Nikki Cross (Sarah Walsh 66), Eniola Aluko
FC Gold Pride: Nicole Barnhart; Rachel Buehler, Kristen Graczyk, Carrie Dew (Erika Arakawa 83), Leigh-AnneRobinson; Leslie Osborne (C), Formiga, Brandi Chastain (Kim Yokers 67), Tina DiMartino; Tiffany Milbrett (Adriane 78),Christine Sinclair
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