WPS MIDWEEK MATCHES 15/07/09

With the business end of the season upon us, crucial matches are being played over the next few weeks to decide who makes it to the playoffs. To add to the excitment all the teams lose some of their important players to international duty in the run in. Which reserve player will be the hero?





Boston Breakers V Chicago Red Stars Wed July 15th 7pm ET

With six matches remaining in the regular season, the third-place Boston Breakers host the fifth-place Chicago Red Stars in a key WPS midweek match, Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Harvard Stadium.

This is the third and final regular season meeting between the two clubs, and the first one in Boston. The Breakers (5-6-3, 18 points) topped the Red Stars (4-6-5, 17 points), 2-0, in the previous matchup on June 21. Chicago handed Boston its worst loss of the year, 4-0, back on April 25, but then did not win another match until just two weeks ago.

The Breakers are coming off a pair of losses in a home-and-home series against Sky Blue FC to start the month of July. Boston fell, 1-0, on July 4 in New Jersey, ending a three-match unbeaten run, and then again on Sunday, 2-1, in Boston. Jennie Nobis notched her second goal of the season with a second-half stoppage time strike in Sunday’s loss, but it was not enough. The Breakers are now tied with Sky Blue FC for third place in the standings.

With wins in their last two WPS contests, the Red Stars now find themselves just one point back from one of the four playoff spots. Chicago defeated the Washington Freedom, 2-1, on July 1 for its first win in nine matches. After falling, 1-0 to the Irish National Team in a July 5 friendly, the Red Stars came back to down FC Gold Pride, 3-1, on Sunday behind a Cristiane hat trick – the first in WPS history.

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NJ Sky Blue FC V Washington Freedom Wed July 15th 7pm ET


The Washington Freedom travels to New Jersey this Wednesday in a midweek match-up against Sky Blue FC. The Freedom (4-6-4, 16 pts.) currently sits in sixth place in the WPS standings, while Sky Blue FC (5-6-3, 18 pts.) is in fourth. Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot, as only the top four teams in the league continue into the postseason. With a win on Wednesday, the Freedom would not only move ahead of Sky Blue FC in the standings, but would also jump over the Chicago Red Stars and Boston Breakers and into third place. With only two points separating the third and sixth place teams, every point counts in this final month of regular season play.

The last time the Freedom and Sky Blue FC met was back in May at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. It marked the first game in which the Freedom went into halftime holding a two goal lead, and the Freedom would go on to win the game 2-1.

Going into Wednesday’s game, the Freedom is looking to turn things around. Since going on a five game unbeaten streak in May, the Freedom has been unable to find consistent success. The Freedom has won only once in its last six games, and has now lost three straight. In addition, the Freedom has only managed to find the back of the net three times in their previous six games combined. Head Coach Jim Gabarra has continuously moved players around in an attempt to find the right combination of scoring power and defensive strength, and the Freedom is determined to show just that in its game against Sky Blue FC.

Sky Blue are on a high after back to back wins for the first time this season, beating the much fancied Boston Breakers impressively on Sunday. With Rosana on form and and a talented midfield Sky Blue look to jump above Boston in the standings. Sky Blue will be without English international Anita Asante as she has now returned to England for international duty.
Natasha Kai is also doubtful due to a persistent shoulder injury.