Beat Falls 3-2 to Freedom; Can Clinch Playoff Berth with a Win This Week

Published on August 4, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


WASHINGTON D.C. (August 4, 2002) - The Atlanta Beat's four-game winning streak ended Sunday afternoon as the team fell 3-2 to the Washington Freedom on a hot and humid day at RFK Stadium. Beat forward Charmaine Hooper scored the game's first goal, also her 11th of the season and 5th in as many games, but the Freedom came back with goals from Mia Hamm, Bai Jie and Pu Wei to win the match. Cindy Parlow scored the Beat's second goal in the loss. The Beat's record moves to 10-8-1, while the Freedom's improves to 10-5-5. The win gave the Freedom the third playoff spot in the WUSA post season. A win in one of the Beat's final two games clinches the fourth and final spot for Atlanta, or a tie and a San Jose CyberRays tie or loss will also clinch the spot for the Beat.

The Beat came out the aggressor and gave the Freedom a scare in the first minute of the game when Washington's defense failed to clear the ball of the penalty box and goalkeeper Erin Fahey had to make a close range save off a Sun Wen shot.

The Beat took the lead in the 13th minute when a familiar foot struck again. The opening goal came after Fahey sent a long goal kick towards midfield. Beat midfielder Marci Miller jumped and headed the ball down the field right into the stride of Hooper, who dribbled into the penalty area and struck a left-footed shot into the lower right corner of the goal. The goal was Hooper's 11th of the season and extended her goal scoring streak to five games, matching a league best set by Katia of San Jose and Birgit Prinz of Carolina.

The Beat continued to attack the Freedom's defense, creating numerous chances in the first half. The Beat out shot the Freedom 14-4 in the half, with eight shots on goal to the Freedom's two. Hooper, Homare Sawa and Sun Wen each had dangerous chances in the first half, but could not put away another goal.

The Freedom began the second half, bringing on star midfielder Hamm and another strong presence in Anne Makinen, while the Beat made no substitutions. The Beat had the first chance of the second half, when Sun Wen dribbled up the field and shot the ball high at the goal, but Fahey came up with the save.

Behind the play of Hamm and Makinen, the Freedom began to mount an attack that put the Beat's defense under pressure. In the 49th minute, Freedom midfielder Steffi Jones struck a shot that was saved off the goal line by defender Nancy Augustyniak. The Freedom would get the tying goal from Hamm in the 58th minute. Fahey took a long goal kick that was flicked on by Bai Jie, into the run of Hamm, who raced by the Beat defense into the penalty area. From the left side of the penalty box, Hamm took a left-footed shot that found the inside of the right post and went in. The goal was Hamm's 7th of the season and third in two games.

Although the Beat kept up the attack, Atlanta could not find the back of the net and in the 75th minute the Freedom took the lead. The goal was set up by a Freedom corner kick. Hamm sent a low hard cross towards the near post. Bai Jie was the first to reach the ball and flicked the ball behind her. Beat goalkeeper Briana Scurry was guarding the near post, but the ball sailed by her hands and under the crossbar for Bai Jie's 5th goal of the season.

With their backs to the wall and searching for at least a point in Washington, the Beat came back with a goal from Parlow in the 77th minute. The scoring play began when Freedom defender Casey Zimny gave the ball up to Hooper on the right wing. Hooper sent a high cross into the penalty box for Parlow, who jumped above Skylar Little and headed in the tying goal, also her 5th of the season.

Following Parlow's goal, the Beat and Freedom traded dangerous chances that could have put either team ahead. In the 79th minute Hooper headed a cross on goal that was saved off of the goal line by Zimny. In the 81st minute Abby Wambach hit a shot that was headed for the upper right corner of the goal, but Scurry jumped and swatted the shot away. In the 85th minute of the game, one of the most exciting sequences of play in the game occurred. Hooper sent a ball over the Freedom defense that fell in the stride of Kylie Bivens. Without taking a touch, Bivens hit a first time volley that flew past Fahey and hit the left post. The ball bounced out to Sawa, who hit a shot that sailed just wide to the right.

Immediately following the Beat's chance, the Freedom sent a long ball up to Hamm. She raced down the field and Scurry came off the goal line to cut off her angle. Hamm hit a shot over Scurry that hit the crossbar and bounced out of the penalty area.

The game was tied 2-2 heading into stoppage time. The referee added an additional two minutes to the end of the second half and the Freedom would use it to score the game winner. The Beat gave up a corner kick on the right side of the field. Hamm stepped to the corner and sent a high ball into the center of the penalty area. The Freedom attackers raced forward and Pu Wei skied above the Beat defense and headed the ball into the top left corner of the goal. The goal was Pu Wei's first of the season. The final whistle blew just moments after the goal. The Freedom snapped the Beat's four game winning streak and more importantly clinched the third playoff spot in the WUSA.

The Beat returns home for the final two games of the regular season. Atlanta faces the San Diego Spirit on Wednesday, August 7, at 7 p.m. and the Philadelphia Charge on Saturday, August 10, both matches at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta. The Beat defeated the Spirit on July 31, 4-1 at Torero Stadium in San Diego and will be looking to grab another victory, the biggest of the season.

Join the Beat after work on Wednesday, August 7 for the ajcjobs.com Kick-Back Zone, where for a special $15 ticket you'll get a great ticket to the game, be able to relax before the game in the exclusive Kick-Back Zone featuring a pre-game concert by Jennifer Nettles and a free ice-cold beverage and plenty of appetizers. Must be 21 and space is limited so call 1-877-SOCCER-1 to order tickets today.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 4, 2002


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