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Pride Earns Fifth Consecutive Win With 4-1 Victory Over Washington Freedom

July 25, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
FC Gold Pride News Release


Marta and Tiffeny Milbrett each scored a pair of goals as FC Gold Pride routed the Washington Freedom, 4-1, Saturday evening in front of 4,809 fans at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, Md. The red-hot Bay Area team has won five straight matches tying their own league record set earlier this season. Milbrett gave FC Gold Pride a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute as Christine Sinclair picked up a loose ball at the top of the box and dribbled to the right endline. Sinclair's cross connected with Milbrett in front of the goal but Milbrett's first shot was blocked by Freedom goalkeeper Erin McLeod. The rebound popped right back to Milbrett who headed it home.

The Freedom knotted the score just before halftime as midfielder Beverly Goebel played a give-and-go with defender Cat Whitehill at the top of the 18-yard box. Goebel then dribbled into the left side of the box and served a cross which FC Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart got a hand to, but Abby Wambach, who was making a far post run, was there to tap it in. Wambach's goal, which came in the 42nd minute, was her team-leading sixth of the season.

FC Gold Pride erupted for three goals in the second half with Marta leading the charge. In the 59th minute, she received a pass from Sinclair and then went on a dribbling run past the Freedom defense towards the left endline where she fired a left-footed shot from a tight angle between the legs of McLeod and into the far corner of the goal. The score gave the Bay Area side a 2-1 advantage.

In the 84th minute, Sinclair again sprung Marta who dribbled into the box alone with only McLeod to beat. Marta cut to her right and as McLeod buckled over, shot the ball into the back of the net for her league-leading 13th goal of the season.

McLeod suffered a right knee injury on the play and was forced to leave the game. Since Washington had already used all three of its substitutions, the Freedom played down a player and Whitehill donned the goalkeeper gloves for the final six minutes plus extra time.

FC Gold Pride took advantage of Washington's misfortune in the 89th minute, pushing its lead to 4-1. Building the play through the midfield, second-half substitute Becky Edwards received a pass at the top of the 18-yard box and laid it off for Milbrett on the left side. With no defender pressuring her, Milbrett chipped the ball into the upper right corner giving Whitehill no chance to stop her well-taken shot. With two goals on the night, Milbrett doubled her season total.

The first-place FC Gold Pride improved its record to 11-3-1 (34 points), while the Washington Freedom (4-5-5, 17 points) remain in a tie for fourth place with the Chicago Red Stars who host the Boston Breakers on Sunday.

FC Gold Pride stays on the road next week, travelling to Atlanta to face the Beat on Sunday, Aug. 1 at 5pm ET / 2pm PT on Fox Soccer Channel. The Freedom will also pay a visit to Atlanta on Wednesday, July 28 at 7:30pm ET before continuing on to Boston where they will play the Breakers on Saturday, July 31 at 6pm ET.

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