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Charge Keep Share of First

June 29, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release


VILLANOVA, PA - Marinette Pichon scored two goals to lead the Philadelphia Charge to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Beat Saturday evening at Villanova Stadium. Philadelphia (8-1-3, 27 pts) maintained its share of first place in the WUSA with the win, while Atlanta fell to 6-5-1 (19 pts) with the loss.

Atlanta came out strong, as Cindy Parlow's shot 64 seconds into the match was stopped by Philadelphia defender Erica Iverson's goal-mouth block. Atlanta's Kelly Cagle saw her shot go wide right in the fourth minute as the Beat controlled play early in the match.

Pichon scored her first goal of the evening when she put Philadelphia up 1-0 in the 34th minute. Jenny Benson sprayed a ball to Zhao Lihong on the left flank. Lihong sent a pretty cross to the far post, where Pichon slid behind Atlanta defender Sharolta Nonen and snapped a header past Beat goalkeeper Briana Scurry at the low right corner.

Although the both clubs played evenly until the Charge scored, Philadelphia controlled possession for the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Atlanta's Kylie Bivens did have a prime scoring opportunity in stoppage time at the end of the first half when she blasted a 15-yard shot toward the right corner of the goal, but Philadelphia goalkeeper Melissa Moore was well positioned and pushed the shot back out of the penalty area.

It was Philadelphia that made an impact early in the second half, as Iverson scored the first goal of her WUSA career, putting the Charge up 2-0 in the 47th minute. Defender Heather Mitts pushed forward into the offensive third and served a great ball to an unmarked Iverson. Iverson powered a header from 15 yards that beat Scurry to the right side of the goal.

Philadelphia continued to control play, and Pichon got behind the Atlanta defense in the 59th minute, but Scurry came off her line to shut down the French national team star and push the ball away.

Pichon continued to make dangerous runs, and one of those forays paid off in the 73rd minute when she scored her ninth goal of the season. Mary Frances Monroe redirected the ball to Liu Ailing, who tapped a pass to Pichon. The fleet-footed forward dashed through the middle of the Atlanta defense and hooked a left-footed shot from 19 yards that Scurry touched as it went into the back of the net.

Atlanta finally got on the scoreboard when second half substitute Sun Wen scored in the 80th minute. Kylie Bivens headed the ball to Sun, and the Chinese international cut across the top of the box and ripped an 18-yard shot inside the right post for the goal for her second goal of the season.

After not defeating Atlanta in four attempts in 2001, Philadelphia has beaten Atlanta in both meetings this season.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 29, 2002


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