Sat April 10th 2010 7pm ET
Once again the Washington Freedom play in the opening game of the WPS Championship. This time versus the Boston Breakers. The Breakers again will be opening on the road.
Both teams however will be looking for a different opening result. A win. Both teams lost their opening matches to Los Angeles Sol and FC Gold Pride respectively.
Who wants it more?
Washington return with the core of their squad -13 in all - with a few players added to shore up the defence and run the midfield. Look to a better defensive display from the Freedom as it’s looking likely that Cat Whitehill, Sonia Bompastor and college rookie Nikki Marshall are in the back. GK Erin McLeod starts from the start which is a big difference to last season. In midfield Sarah Huffman should return to give them a more attacking midfield push. Norwegian striker Lene Mykjaland may also start in midfield or off the main striker Abby Wambach. Wambach is also fully fit and is in form. What formation they play we will see but expect it to be fluid from 5 in midfield to 2 up front.
Boston come into the match looking for goals. They have overloaded on attack minded players. College draft #2 pick Lauren Cheney, Spanish international Laura Del Rio, Australian Sarah Walsh, Tiffany Weimer add to returnees Kelly Smith and Kristine Lilly. Not hard to see where Coach DiCicco felt his team lacked last season. However with so many attacking players the system they play in and who fits where becomes important. In midfield Leslie Osborne should start and in defence they get a boost with Stephanie Cox from Los Angeles Sol slotting into the left back position vacated by Heather Mitts. Smith is back fit and looks to start up top.
Will the game turn into Washington’s defence v Boston‘s attack? Hardly, but we will get the first glimpse of how each team sorts out their biggest problem from last year.
Prediction - Both teams could cancel each other out. A score draw.
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