Saturday 17 April 2010

WEEKEND PREVIEW 2 - SATURDAY/SUNDAY 17th/18th April 2010

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                                                   Sat April 17th 2010  8pm ET/ 1am GMT - Live webcast
Saint Louis Athletica travel to Toyota Park to face Chicago Red Stars on a high after their dismantle of FC Gold Pride. The game will be streamed live through the Chicago Red Stars website, www.chicagoredstars.com. 
Athletica have gotten the better of Chicago so far with 2 wins to Chicago's 1.A few players could see themselves playing against their former club. Chicago's new keeper Jillian Loyden was backup to Hope Solo but now she very much the number one at Toyota Park. Lindsay Tarpley was also part of that deal sending her in the opposite direction to Saint Louis. Tarpley is still coming back from her ACL injury but is training, if she is there she will be on the bench.
Both teams are much improved from last season and both played well in their opening matches last weekend. Chicago at times had good play and accounted themselves well against Sky Blue but they need to be more ruthless in the final 3rd. With players like Cristiane and Kosovare Asllani in the side their should be plenty of goalscoring opportunities. Megan Rapinoe still out through illness.
For Saint Louis it is more of the same. Most of their play will come from midfield, feeding the speedy forward in Eniola Aluko.
 Prediction - Away win 2-1 Saint Louis. Chicago will get their goal but Saint Louis will be too strong. Aluko to score.

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                                                   Sat April 17th 2010 10pm ET
Coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss against the Saint Louis Athletica in their first game of the 2010 season, the FC Gold Pride returns home to the Bay Area and looks to regroup in preparation for this weekend's showdown with Sky Blue FC.
Sky Blue FC opened up the 2010 WPS season with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars last Sunday, and look to continue the defense of their title with back-to-back wins.Natasha Kai will be dangerous in attack and the defence is looking like being one of the best in the league. They will be without LB Meghan Schnur who is out with a knee knock. Christie Rampone and Anita Asante still not available.
Saturday's Home Opener will mark the Pride's first time playing in front of Bay Area fans at Castro Valley High School Athletic Stadium, after moving their home stadium and front offices during the 2010 offseason.The fans want a win. Against Saint Louis, Coach Montoya played Marta in midfield with Tiffany Millbrett, Kelly O'Hara and Christine Sinclair up front. This left the Pride's midfield exposed. Marta needs to be closer to the goal to take any chances that fall to the Pride. And Camille Abilly and Solveig Gulbrandsen need more help in midfield especially against the well oiled midfield of Sky Blue with has Yael Averbuch and Carli Lloyd patrolling the middle and Heather O'Reilly and Kacey White coming in from the flanks.

Prediction - This is tough. It will come down to who scores first. 1-0 away win Sky Blue. Confidence is an extra man. Sky Blue have bags of it.



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                                                 Sun April 18th 2010 6pm ET/ 11pm GMT Live FSC




The Philadelphia Independence is looking to capture its first win of the season at Harvard Stadium on Sunday night's televised game, taking on the Boston Breakers in their second game of the season.Boston look to maintain their form by getting another win. Tonight's game will be a sort of reunion for Heather Mitts and Amy Rodriguez who previously played for Boston last season. Mitts will be playing her first game of the season after missing last weekend through injury and the Independence also welcome back defender Alison Falk from suspension. Boston are missing the Brazilian Fabiana through injury. Kelly Smith and Lauren Cheney both should start up front continuing their blossoming partnership.
Expect a tight game.

 Prediction - Home win Boston. 1-0





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                                                 Sun April 18th 2010 7pm ET

Week two of WPS is underway as Washington Freedom hosts Atlanta Beat, tonight, at the Maryland SoccerPlex in the first meeting between the two teams. 2010 is the inaugural WPS season for the Beat. Both teams are looking to post their first wins of the 2010 season, after Atlanta opened the season with a scoreless tie against fellow 2010 WPS expansion team, Philadelphia Independence and Freedom fell 2-1 against Boston Breakers in the home opener. Freedom will look to improve the defensive line, as well as continue working on the fundamentals of attacking and possessions in hopes of converting more chances in the box to goals. Both teams’ rosters are heavy with international players as well as plenty national talent, setting the stage for an exciting first meeting between Washington Freedom and Atlanta Beat.
The visitors should welcome back swiss striker Ramona Bachmann who missed the first game due to illness.
A tough match for both teams. It will be a battle especially between Abby Wambach and Kia McNeil.

 Prediction - Home Win Washington 2-1






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