Charge Play to 1-1 Tie Versus Spirit
Published on June 23, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
SAN DIEGO, CA (June 23, 2002) - Melissa Moore made seven saves Sunday night as the Philadelphia Charge played to a 1-1 tie against the San Diego Spirit at Torero Stadium. Philadelphia (7-1-3, 24 pts) remained in first place despite the tie, moving to 3-0-3 in its last six games. San Diego (2-6-3, 9 pts) improved to 1-0-1 against the Charge this season, having also shut out Philly earlier this year at Torero Stadium.
The Charge benefited from an own goal for their only tally of the contest, while the Spirit had to play a man down for a bulk of the game, but came out with a much-needed point.
Moore has made 17 saves in the last two games for the Charge, who had defeated the Carolina Courage 3-1 on Wednesday night behind a season-high 10 saves from Moore.
Marinette Pichon had her four-game goal-scoring streak come to an end for Philadelphia, which moved to 4-1-1 as the guest this season.
This was also the first time in club history that the Charge failed to record a win when leading a game a halftime. The team's all-time record is now 10-0-1 when taking a lead to the break.
Philadelphia will return home this Saturday, June 29 to face the Atlanta Beat at Villanova Stadium starting at 7 p.m. The first 5,000 kids 14 & under to the game will receive a Charge Autograph Book courtesy of Hyundai.
The game started out very physical and in just the 15th Minute San Diego's Mercy Akide was issued a red card for violently fouling Moore, who has been nursing a sprained right knee. As a result, the Spirit were forced to play the rest of the contest a player down.
The club held its own for a majority of the remainder of the first half, but a costly error in the 45th minute by the Spirit's Fan Yunjie led to an own goal and Philadelphia grabbed a 1-0 lead.
The goal for the Charge was the first in 135 minutes versus the Spirit this season. San Diego had shutout Philadelphia earlier this season, 1-0, handing the Charge their lone loss thus far this year.
The Spirit responded in the second half, coming out strong and finally getting on the board when the club's leading scorer Zhang Ouying beat Moore for the equalizer in the 51st minute. Lori Lindsey recorded an assist on the play.
Philadelphia picked up its intensity in the final minutes, recording eight shots in the last 25 minutes of action. The club's best opportunity was when Zhao Lihong's shot hit off the cross bar, marking the second time in the contest a Charge player drew iron. In the eighth minute, Pichon hit the right post and the ball bounced away.
Erin Martin, who was a second-half sub, had four of the eight shots in the final 25 minutes. However, Jamie Pagliarulo made two saves and Martin missed on the other two, keeping the Charge from scoring.
Pagliarulo needed to make only four saves for the contest.
NOTES: The Charge moved to 5-0-1 when they score first and 4-0-1 when leading at the half this season ... The Charge are 2-1-2 all-time versus the Spirit ... These two clubs will battle for the third and final time this season on August 3 when the Spirit travel to Philadelphia.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 23, 2002
- 10-Player Spirit Ties Charge, 1-1 - San Diego Spirit
- Spirit Ties Charge - WUSA
- Charge Play to 1-1 Tie Versus Spirit - Philadelphia Charge
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