San Diego Spirit 2, Carolina Courage 1
May 24, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Carolina Courage News Release
Morrisville, NC (May 24, 2003) - Aly Wagner's strike in the 78th minute broke a tie and lifted San Diego to its first ever victory over the Carolina Courage, 2-1, at SAS Stadium on Saturday. It was first career goal for Aly Wagner, the first overall pick in the 2003 WUSA draft.
San Diego took the lead in the waning seconds of the first half, when referee Kari Seitz whistled for a penalty kick in the Courage box. Carolina defender Staci Burt was adjudged to have pulled down Spirit forward Christine Latham in the 45th minute. San Diego captain Julie Foudy converted the spot kick, pushing a shot to the right of Kristin Luckenbill. It was Foudy's first goal of the 2003 campaign.
In the 76th minute, Danielle Fotopoulos evened the game from a corner kick. Courage midfielder Unni Lehn served the corner kick into the goalmouth and Fotopoulos hungrily punched it in with her head. It was Fotopoulos' fourth goal of the season.
San Diego responded immediately. In the 78th minute, Spirit midfielder Zhang Ouying released teammate Julie Fleeting down the right flank. The big Scottish striker sliced the ball back across the top of the penalty area to midfielder Aly Wagner. Eluding two Courage defenders with a deft touch, Wagner released a quick strike that beat Luckenbill to the right goalpost.
The Courage (1-5-0) has lost its first four home games this season. San Diego (3-1-3) climbed into second place in the standings, pending the outcomes of the other WUSA games later in the evening.
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 24, 2003
- Pretinha scores twice as CyberRays down Philadelphia - San Jose CyberRays
- Freedom Blank Power, 4-0 - New York Power
- San Diego Spirit 2, Carolina Courage 1 - Carolina Courage
- Spirit Downs Courage, 2-1, on Goals by Foudy and Wagner - San Diego Spirit
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