Two goals and an assist from forward Abby Wambach propelled the Washington Freedom to a 3-1 win over Sky Blue FC on Saturday night at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
With the win, Washington clinches a playoff spot and the third seed in the WPS Playoffs, meaning they will host next week’s first round match against either Sky Blue FC or the Boston Breakers
Washington came out attacking early and was the better team in the first half. After heading the ball just over the bar in the 14th minute, Rebecca Moros set up the opening goal for the Freedom in the 19th minute when she crossed a ball in from the right side for Wambach to finish from close range.
Sky Blue FC put together a prolonged offensive spurt later in the opening half but came away empty from its efforts. In the 33rd minute, Yael Averbuch played a nice ball behind for Natasha Kai and the Sky Blue FC striker lifted the ball over charging Freedom keeper Erin McLeod but wide of the goal. A minute later, Heather O'Reilly sent a serve into the box that Rosana headed wide and in the 36th minute, Kacey White lined a deflection off an O'Reilly cross over the bar.
In the 44th minute, Rosana got loose down the right wing and cracked a shot from about 12 yards out, but McLeod leapt to her right and parried the shot over the goal.
Washington struck for a timely goal four minutes into the second half on 48th minute thanks to the Lisa De Vanna-Wambach combination. De Vanna carried the ball up the left side and sent a great low cross through the box for Wambach to finish easily into an open goal at the far post.
Rosana brought Sky Blue FC back within one with a 23-yard bomb to the top left corner of the goal in the 53rd minute.
However, Washington responded four minutes later to regain the two-goal edge by a goal by De Vanna. Wambach sent in a hard, low cross from the right for the Australian striker to touch inside the left post from eight yards out.
Sky Blue again got chances towards the end of the half but were unable to convert.
Kai penetrated the Freedom defense and fired a shot, which McLeod got a glove on, it was cleared off the line by Becky Sauerbrunn. And in the 85th minute Rosana saw her curling free-kick from 25 yards out hit the crossbar.
The Freedom held on for the win and a playoff spot.
Both teams now await the result between the Boston Breakers and Los Angles Sol on Sunday to learn whether the Freedom will be hosting Boston or Sky Blue FC in the First Round match on August 15th.
Washington Head Coach Jim Gabarra
“We have won three in a row at home and are playing our best soccer of the season,Trending upward as a team heading into the playoffs is great and being able to play at home is huge for us.”
Washington Freedom forward Abby Wambach
"It's huge,Obviously now we're going to be watching who wins the game tomorrow [between] Boston and L.A. . . . We're glad to have the playoff game here. We feel that this environment that the Washington Freedom community puts out is an environment that is playoff [comparable] almost every game."
Lineups:
Washington Freedom: Erin McLeod; Sarah Senty, Cat Whitehill, Becky Sauerbrunn, Ali Krieger; Lori Lindsey (Jill Gilbeau 71'), Sonia Bompastor (Allie Long 90+'), Homare Sawa, Rebecca Moros (Joanna Lohman 84'); Lisa De Vanna, Abby Wambach(C).
Sky Blue FC: Jenni Branam; Christie Rampone(C), Anita Asante, Meghan Schnur (Jen Buczkowski 68'), Keeley Dowling; Kelly Parker (Collette McCallum 45'), Heather O'Reilly, Yael Averbuch, Rosana; Kacey White, Natasha Kai.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Post a Comment