Charge Will Host Playoff Game August 17
Published on August 4, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
VILLANOVA, PA (August 4, 2002) - One day after clinching a spot in the postseason, the Philadelphia Charge learned Sunday that they will be hosting a WUSA semifinal game at Villanova Stadium on Saturday, August 17.
Tickets for the game can be purchased by calling the Charge ticket office at 215-467-GOAL or your local Ticketmaster outlet.
The Charge (11-3-5, 38 pts), who sit in first place in the league standings, clinched homefield advantage when the Washington Freedom defeated the Atlanta Beat 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. The win by the Freedom assures the Charge of finishing ahead of every team except the second-place Carolina Courage, who sit two points behind Philadelphia with two games to play. It is possible Washington could finish tied with the Charge, but Philadelphia holds the tiebreak advantage winning two of the three head-to-head games this season (2-0-1).
The top four teams in the WUSA advance to the playoffs, with the top two clubs hosting a semifinal game on Saturday, August 17. Game times for the semifinal round have not been determined. The winners will then meet in Founders Cup II on Saturday, August 24 in Atlanta's Herndon Stadium on the campus of Morris Brown College.
This is the second straight season the Charge have qualified for the playoffs and first time they have clinched homefield advantage for the semifinal round. Last season, Philadelphia finished fourth in the standings and lost a heartbreaker in overtime 3-2 after building a 2-0 first-half lead.
Right now it is uncertain who the Charge would host in the semifinals. After this weekend's play, the Freedom are in third place only one point behind the Courage, while the Beat are in fourth place. Atlanta is four points behind Washington and only three ahead of the defending Founders Cup champion San Jose CyberRays.
U.S. National Team member Brandi Chastain and the CyberRays visit the Charge this Wednesday, August 7 in Philadelphia's regular season home finale. Game time is 7 p.m. and tickets for the possible playoff preview can be purchased by calling 215-467-GOAL.
The Charge conclude their regular season on Saturday, August 10 in Atlanta against the Beat. If the standings remained they way they are today, the Charge would host the Beat the following week in the semifinal round.
Philadelphia clinched a spot in the playoffs on Saturday when the Courage defeated the CyberRays, 4-1. The Charge went on to defeat the San Diego Spirit on Saturday night, 3-1, thanks to goals by Stacey Tullock, Erica Iverson and Marinette Pichon. Zhao Lihong added a franchise record three assists, as the Charge set a new WUSA record for points in a season with 38.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 4, 2002
- Boston Beats New York, 4-1 - WUSA
- Charge Will Host Playoff Game August 17 - Philadelphia Charge
- Power Fall to Boston - New York Power
- Beat Falls 3-2 to Freedom; Can Clinch Playoff Berth with a Win This Week - Atlanta Beat
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