Saturday 17 April 2010

THE WEEK THAT WAS - WPS WEEK ENDING 16/04/10




The week that was!

WPS got started last weekend with all 8 teams taking to the field. Saint Louis Athletica find themselves at the top of the table with a 2-0 win against FC Gold Pride on Sunday at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park,Missouri. Eniola Aluko scoring on 40 mins and 62 mins ,both assists from  Shannon Boxx.
The win was a surprising result to some as FC Gold Pride had new signings Marta and Camille Abily in the lineup. But the Athletica’s dominant midfield play set them up for a win.
The Boston Breakers roll into 2nd place in the league with a 2-1 win away to Washington Freedom. Rookie Lauren Cheney scoring in the 7th minute from a corner by Kristine Lilly and Kelly Smith continuing her open day scoring streak with a goal on 20 mins from a pass by Stephanie Cox. The Freedom managed to pull one back in the dying minutes at The Maryland SoccerPlex  with a great shot from Allie Long in the 87th minute. Washington could not find a way to get the equalizer and Boston held on for the win.
The televised Sunday game from Fox Soccer Channel was for the defending champions NJ Sky Blue FC
against Chicago Red Stars at Yurcak Field , NJ. Over 4400 fans came out to see Sky Blue hold on for the 1-0 win. Natasha Kai scored the lone goal in the 7th minute from a defence splitting pass by Heather O’Reilly. The Red Stars put up a spirited fight back in the 2nd half but couldn’t convert any of their chances. The game between the expansions teams ended in a stalemate at John A Farrell Stadium,PA, in front of the weekends biggest crowd of over 6000. The Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence both created many chances the best falling in the dying seconds to Amy Rodriguez who was 1v1 in on the keeper but a good save by Allison Whitworth kept the game a tie


Sky Blue FC v Chicago Red Stars



Saint Louis Athletica v FC Gold Pride



Philadelphia Independence v Atlanta Beat



Washington Freedom v Boston Breakers








Eniola Aluko - Player of the Week.

Congratulations to Saint Louis Athletica forward Eniola Aluko who has been named the first WPS Player of the Week in 2010 after scoring both goals in Athletica’s 2-0 win on Sunday over FC Gold Pride. This is the second time Aluko has won the honor. She was Player of the Week in Week 12 of WPS’s inaugural season. No surprises to see her already leading the goal scoring charts.
"I am delighted to get the first player of the week accolade of 2010,” said Aluko upon being informed of the award. “I am so pleased that I was able to contribute to what was a great team performance against FC Gold Pride at the weekend. I aim to score more goals than last season, so this will give me confidence to keep scoring." 




 BRIT WATCH
Eniola Aluko tops the Brits with her 2 goals all round play against Gold Pride edging out Kelly Smith who scored once again on opening day, this time her goal was enough to ensure a Breakers win. Smith was substituted out in the 68th minute as a precautionary. Lets hope the knee holds up. Alex Scott put in a fine performance in the back limiting the Freedom attack to go through the middle.

Sky Blue goalkeeper Karen Bardsley got a rare start due to the injury of Jenni Branam. Bardsley got her clean sheet with a strong, commanding performance. Lucky her collision with Karen Carney was not a PK. Scottish international Ifeoma Dieke was back in the starting lineup partnering US star Kate Markgraf. She let Kai through for the goal in the 7th minute but was untroubled for the rest of the game as Chicago had most of the game. English midfielder Kate Chapman also made her first start for the Red Stars. A lot of the game bypassed Chapman in the 1st half as she looked to adjust to the speed of play of the WPS. In the 2nd half she saw more of the ball and got forward on a few occasions as Chicago were pressing for the equalizer. Karen Carney came on in the 2nd half  back from knee surgery and was immediately creating chances. Had a good shout for a penalty when she looked to be brought down in the box by Bardsley. Still not match fit, but great to see her back nad in the thick of the action.
Ex-Chelsea player Lianne Sanderson was in from the start for Philadelphia Independence partnering US star Amy Rodriguez. Sanderson was tidy and showed of her close ball control  linking up well with Rodriguez, especially at the end when her control of the ball and through ball found Rodriguez in on goal.
Anita Asante is still rehabbing her knee. Training with the team and looks to a June comeback.






 Kelly Smith on Boston's win against Washington.
 

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