Carolina Courage 3, Atlanta Beat 2
July 4, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Carolina Courage News Release
Cary, NC (July, 4, 2003) - The Carolina Courage scored three goals in a sixteen minute span in the second half to defeat the Atlanta Beat, 3-2, on Friday night. Danielle Slaton recorded her first points of the season, a goal and an assist, to lead the resurgent Courage back into the WUSA playoff hunt.
Charmaine Hooper gave Atlanta the early lead in the 8th minute. Cindy Parlow found Hooper at the top of the penalty box. Hooper dribbled across the top of the box, drawing a couple of Courage defenders, then cut the ball back sharply, losing her markers. She then struck a low shot that beat Kristin Luckenbill to the inside of the left post.
The Courage pushed the tempo following the goal, creating several dangerous chances. First, Danielle Slaton pounced on a loose ball in the six yard box, slapping a shot off of Atlanta goalkeeper Briana Scurry from point blank range. A few minutes later, Slaton stormed down the left flank and served a ball to a Venus James, whose flashing header rose just over the bar.
The chances kept coming for Carolina. In the 22nd minute, Birgit Prinz dropped a ball off to Venus James, who unleashed a wicked blast from 25 yards that smacked off the crossbar.
After this flurry of activity, Atlanta took control for the next several minutes, virtually pinning the Courage in the own end. Atlanta swarmed the Courage penalty box, but Kristin Luckenbill pawed down a crossing pass to break the pressure.
In the 45th minute, Birgit Prinz slotted a pass to Unni Lehn, but Carolina's Norwegian midfielder squandered her last minute chance to even the match, pushing a shot harmlessly into Scurry's arms.
The Courage came charging out of the locker after the break.
In the 47th minute, following a goalmouth scramble, Carolina's Danielle Slaton punched in a sitter from three yards out.
Buoyed by the vociferous crowd of 6,411 the Courage grabbed the lead six minutes later. Venus James intercepted a back pass from Sharolta Nonen, fended off Atlanta's Nancy Augustyniak, and slipped a shot past Briana Scurry.
Then, in the 64th minute, Slaton carved her way along the left sideline, turned the corner, and whipped a ball along the goal line. Birgit Prinz charged through the goalmouth and tucked it neatly into the near side netting to make the score 3-1.
Unwilling to sit idly by, Atlanta wrenched up the pressure for the remainder of the game.
In the 71st minute, Charmaine Hooper, lurking deep in the Courage end, got her head on the end of a chip over the Carolina defense that looped over Kristin Luckenbill into the goal. However, the linesman's flag was raised, indicating that Hooper was in an offside position, and the goal was disallowed.
Three minutes later, Hooper made no mistake, burying a goal from the corner of the penalty area. Conny Pohlers started the play, by dropping the ball easily back to Hooper at the edge of the area. The Canadian forward one-timed the ball with the inside of her left foot into the far right corner - a 30 yard strike which Luckenbill had no chance of reaching.
In the end, the Courage weathered a late barrage of offense to secure its second home victory of the season. Carolina improved to 5-6-3 and moved into a tie with Washington for fourth place. Atlanta remains in first place with a record of 6-3-4, even with Boston who is idle this weekend.
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 4, 2003
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