Carolina 1, Atlanta 0
Published on May 4, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
CARY, NC - Tiffany Roberts' driving header in the 72nd minute gave the Carolina Courage a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Beat Saturday afternoon in the inaugural game at SAS Stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium built for a WUSA team. Carolina (3-0-0, 9 pts.) continued its dominance over Atlanta (1-3-0, 3 pts.), as the Courage now leads the all-time series 3-0-1.
The victory temporarily moved Carolina (3-0-0), a club that finished last in the WUSA in 2001, into first place in the WUSA and Atlanta (1-3-0) into the basement of the eight-team league. Boston visits Philadelphia later this evening in WUSA action.
Carolina goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill, the WUSA co-player of the month for April, had another outstanding match, registering five saves while picking up her first shutout of the 2002 campaign.
The first half produced end-to-end action, with Carolina's Kim Yankowski having the best scoring opportunity in the third minute when she had a hard shot parried away by Atlanta goalkeeper Briana Scurry. Yankowski followed up on Scurry's block with a shot over the crossbar.
After a scoreless first half, both teams made numerous substitutions early in the second half to inject some offense into their respective squads. Atlanta's two main offensive threats, Canadian national team forward Charmaine Hooper and U.S. national team star Cindy Parlow, both came on as subs in the second half but were unable to make an impact against a stingy Carolina defense led by Danielle Slaton and Staci Burt. Hooper and Parlow, who have been nursing injuries, did not get off a shot in a combined 71 minutes of action.
Carolina rookie Katie Barnes, who entered the game at the start of the second half, made her presence felt in the 70th minute when her shot from the left flank glanced off Atlanta defender Kylie Bivens, and Scurry's diving stab at the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and out of play. Two minute later, Hege Riise's pretty cross from the left side of the penalty area found an onrushing Roberts, whose snap header to the far side beat Scurry and a sliding Bivens for the game winner. The goal was Roberts' first score in 24 career WUSA matches and an early birthday present, as the University of North Carolina product turns 25 tomorrow.
Carolina nearly scored again in the 80th minute when Riise ripped a free kick from 40 yards only to see it slam off the crossbar. Atlanta fought back, but Nikki Serlenga's long-range shot in the 81st minute was saved by a diving Luckenbill. The Beat pressed on, but Head Coach Tom Stone's club was unable to generate a challenging scoring threat for the remainder of the match.
Riise and countrywoman Unni Lehn were ushered off to the airport for a transatlantic flight to Norway where the two will prepare for a World Cup qualifier against France later this week.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 4, 2002
- Charge Win Home Opener, 4-2 - Philadelphia Charge
- Carolina 1, Atlanta 0 - WUSA
- Beat Falls to Courage 1-0 - Atlanta Beat
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