CyberRays Stop Charge, 2-0
Published on July 31, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Katia and Tisha Venturini-Hoch each scored as the San Jose CyberRays downed the Philadelphia Charge 2-0 Wednesday evening at Spartan Stadium. The victory was San Jose's second consecutive win, as the CyberRays (8-6-4, 28 pts.) aggressively pursue a playoff berth. Following a 10-1-4 start, Philadelphia (10-3-5, 35 pts.) has now gone 0-2-1 in its last three matches.
After a scoreless first half, San Jose midfielder Tisha Venturini-Hoch opened the scoring with a header that found the back of the net in the 54th minute to put the CyberRays up 1-0. Pretihna had fired a 15-yard shot of the crossbar that Philadelphia goalkeeper Maite Zabala pushed out with her fingertips. Trying to keep the ball in front of the goal, Katia popped the ball up from the right side into the center of the penalty area, and Venturini-Hoch headed it in from 10 yards.
Zabala was seeing her first minutes of the 2002 season while starting goalkeeper Melissa Moore took the night off. Philadelphia also played without four additional starters - forward Marinette Pichon (big toe), defender Heather Mitts (hip pointer), defender Erica Iverson (rested) and midfielder Zhao Lihong(rested).
San Jose continued to control the run of play in the second half, and Sissi nearly scored in the 67th minute when her long blast from the left side smacked the far right post. In the 75th minute, Katia had a shot cleared off the goal line by Philadelphia defender.
Katia then went ahead and sealed the victory in the 84th minute when she extended her goal-scoring streak to five games. Gina Eagleson sent in a cross from the left side, and Katia one-timed it with her right foot from four yards to beat Zabala on the far post. It the Brazilian striker's WUSA-leading 15th goal of the season.
San Jose looks to continue its winning ways with a visit to SAS Stadium to take on the Carolina Courage on Saturday in a nationally televised match on PAX at 4:00 pm ET. Philadelphia hopes to rebound when the Charge hosts nemesis San Diego on Saturday.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 31, 2002
- Spirit Falls to Beat, 4-1, in Front of Record Crowd at Torero - San Diego Spirit
- Sawa Leads Beat Past Spirit - WUSA
- Charge Fall to CyberRays, 2-0 - Philadelphia Charge
- CyberRays Stop Charge, 2-0 - WUSA
- Hamm, Wambach Lead Freedom Rout - WUSA
- Charge Seek Second Straight Playoff Berth - Philadelphia Charge
- Charge Playoff Tickets to Go on Sale to Public Thursday - Philadelphia Charge
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