Beat vs. Chicago Red Stars
July 7, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Atlanta Beat News Release
The Atlanta Beat (1-6-3) travel back to Bridgeview, Ill. to face the Chicago Red Stars at 8:30 P.M. ET on Wednesday, July 7 at Toyota Park. This match marks the third meeting between these two teams after the previous two resulted in a 0-0 tie in Chicago and a 1-0 Beat home win.
Beat defender Tina Ellertson put away the only goal in games against Chicago after she scored the club's first home goal of the regular season. In that June 19 match, the Beat out-shot the Red Stars 17-4 despite missing five players due to national team duty and grassroots campaigns related to the World Cup: Ramona Bachmann, Johanna Rasmussen, Eniola Aluko, Hope Solo and Kia McNeill.
When the Beat met the Red Stars for the first time, Beat goalkeeper Hope Solo came up with several big saves in the second half to preserve the 0-0 result as Chicago's closest chances came in the 49th and 51st minutes at Toyota Park. Red Star forward Cristiane forced Solo to make a diving save before sending a deep cross to Megan Rapinoe, who went one vs. one with Solo who made the save.
Offensively in that match, the Beat earned five shots with one taken on a free kick by Kerr, plus a header and a shot in the box by McNeill. Midfielder McCall Zerboni also recorded a dangerous shot. Both teams were forced to rely on their benches early when Beat forward Mami Yamaguchi and Red Stars defender Natalie Spilger had a head-to-head collision that resulted in stitches for both players. Spilger needed seven stitches on the top of her head and Yamaguchi needed eight for her forehead. Atlanta's Ramona Bachmann replaced Yamaguchi in the 11th minute and defender Elise Weber replaced Spilger.
In the nets, Solo had eight saves for the Beat while Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden had one.
Approaching Wednesday's match, the Beat are without Kia McNeill (received a red card vs. Bay Area), Ramona Bachmann (international duty), Tina Ellertson (concussion), and Monica Ocampo (knee).
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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from July 7, 2010
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