BOSTON BREAKERS 1 - 2 LOS ANGELES SOL

The Boston Breakers’ hopes of making the playoffs ended in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Sol on Sunday night at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass.

Needing a win to advance to the playoffs the loss ends Boston’s season, as they finish in fifth place, one point behind Sky Blue FC who earns the fourth and final playoff spot. The Sol (12-3-5, 41 points), the number one seed in the playoffs, will await to host the 2009 WPS Championship on August 22.

Los Angeles started off the stronger. In the 3rd minute Chinese international Han Duan took the ball down the right side, and cut around defender Alex Scott, goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill came out to grab the ball before she could get her shot off. Aya Miyama had an opportunity when Aly Wagner bent a ball right in front of the net for her to connect on, but she hit it wide.

The Breakers opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Kristine Lilly send a long ball from the left side ahead of Kelly Smith, who ran past defenders and hit a low shot past Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc into the left corner. Smith ends her season as the Breakers leading scorer with six goals.

Boston continued to be on the offensive after its goal, and had chances to add to its lead towards the end of the half. In the 31st minute, Smith, this time sent a ball to Lilly, but LeBlanc picked it up before she was able to catch it. In the 34th minute, Heather Mitts intercepted a ball, changing the direction of play and sending a cross into the box, but nobody was able to connect on it for a shot.

Into the 2nd half and Los Angeles started to connect with their passes and put some pressure on the Breakers who were finding it difficult to create the same chances like they did in the 1st half.French Midfielder Camille Abilly came on and made an immediate impact. This was to be her last game as she returns to France for Euro 2009 preparations.

It paid off as the tying goal was scored in the 59th minute, when Marta received a long ball over the Breakers defense from Wagner, and lifted it over goalkeeper Luckenbill who had hesitated in coming out, into the bottom left corner of the net. It was Marta’s league-leading 10th goal of the year.

After Marta’s equalizer, the Breakers pressed to get the lead back. Scott sent the ball through to Lilly in the 56th minute toward the left side of goal, but her shot went right into LeBlanc’s gloves.Smith and second-half substitute Amy Rodriguez had the best chances to regain the lead. Smith shot a free kick in the 70th minute that just grazed the crossbar. Rodriguez’ fellow second-half sub Christine Latham fought for the ball on the end line and slide tackled the ball for Rodriguez at the top of the area, but the forward’s shot went high in the 78th minute.

In stoppage time, Marta drew a foul in the penalty area, and Shannon Boxx sealed Boston’s fate with a penalty kick goal to the upper right corner of the net.

Boston Breakers Head Coach TonY DiCicco

“I’m very proud of our team, but we just came short,It was a very frustrating season. During the last home game we dominated Sky Blue FC, who’s in the playoffs ahead of us. This game here I thought that we had some pretty good looks to get the second goal, but we didn’t connect. When you keep a team like L.A. in the game, they did what they needed to do in the second half.”


Lineups
BOSTON: Kristin Luckenbill; Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Candace Chapman (Amy Rodriguez, 74th minute), Heather Mitts; Maggie Tomecka, Kristine Lilly, Angela Hucles, Mary-Frances Monroe (Kelly Schmedes, 64th minute), Fabiana (Christine Latham, 68th minute); Kelly Smith.


LOS ANGELES: Karina LeBlanc; Keri Sanchez (Camille Abily, 46th minute), Allison Falk, Brittany Bock, Stephanie Cox; Shannon Boxx, Aya Miyama, Manya Makoski, Aly Wagner; Han Duan (McCall Zerboni, 87th minute), Marta.