Boston Breakers Beat Los Angeles Sol
Women’s Professional Soccer News
England striker Kelly Smith and veteran USA star Kristine Lilly destroyed the Sol defence’s perfect start to the season, ending the Los Angeles team’s four-game shut-out streak.
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Smith – last week named WPS Player of the Month for April - scored her fourth of the season just two minutes into the match between the two women’s soccer league leaders. 37-year-old Lilly scored early in the second half for a 2-1 win at Harvard Stadium, handing Los Angeles Sol their first defeat and closing the gap at the top of the table to just one point.
League top-scorer Smith has scored in each of her four appearances this season, while Marta, back to the Sol after international duty with Brazil, made her first goalless appearance.
Lilly and Smith were the first to breach Sol keeper Karina LeBlanc’s goal after an impressive four clean sheets to start the season; but rather than dwell on the loss, the Canada international is focused on revenge when the two top sides meet again next week at the Home Depot Center.
“We have them at home next week,” said LeBlanc. “Anytime you lose, you want the chance to avenge that as soon as possible. We have that chance next week.”
Free-Scoring Freedom Settle for Draw
Washington Freedom continued their prolific goal-scoring streak, but failed to make the most of it in a 3-3 draw against Saint Louis Athletica. Brazil international Daniela made her mark emphatically for Athletica, scoring twice in the first half, while a second-half Eni Aluko strike extended Athletica’s lead to 3-1; but a heroic performance from Freedom’s French midfielder Sonia Bompastor ensured a point for Washington.
Bompastor scored two goals, including the 90th minute equaliser, with Australian forward Lisa De Vanna also getting on the scoresheet for Freedom. Bompastor’s invaluable performance won her the WPS Player of the Week award.
Said teammate Abby Wambach: “Sonia basically carried us today – put us on her back and carried us.”
Wambach Daniela Tackle
The late equaliser left Athletica still seeking their first win of the season, but even more costly will be the loss of Daniela. Late in the second half, a heavy tackle from Wambach left the Brazilian with a cracked tibia and knee ligament damage that could end her season.
“I wish Daniela nothing but the speediest of recoveries,” said Wambach, who expressed her dismay at the incident, given her own recent struggle with injury. It was later announced that Wambach will serve a one-game suspension for the tackle, which was judged reckless by a WPS Commissioner review.
In the other match of the weekend, a late second-half goal gave FC Gold Pride a slim 1-0 home victory Sunday and consigned Sky Blue to remaining bottom of the league.
Next weekend, Los Angeles Sol seek revenge against Boston Breakers at the Home Depot Center; Saint Louis Athletica take the search for their elusive first win to FC Gold Pride; and Fox Soccer Channel will feature Chicago Red Stars versus Sky Blue FC.
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