Spirit Ties Beat, 1-1, on Late Penalty Kick by Foudy

Published on June 1, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Spirit stretched their unbeaten streak to a team record seven games after a highly entertaining 1-1 draw with the Atlanta Beat.. The Spirit got the tying goal on an 84th minute penalty kick by captain Julie Foudy after Julie Fleeting had been dragged down in the penalty box by Beat captain Charmaine Hooper.

The Spirit moved to 3-1-4 (13 points) while Atlanta moved to 4-1-3 (15 pts) as teams recorded the second 1-1 tie of the season between the two clubs. With the tie, the Spirit dropped to fourth place in the WUSA, but just three points out of first. The Spirit fell victim to an early goal as Hooper tallied before five minutes were gone, running onto a long ball that skipped through Spirit defense. Hooper beat Lisa Krzykowski and easily rolled the ball past Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo from 13 yards out.

The Beat peppered the Spirit goal with shots in the first half, most coming off great transition that led to quick attacks, but they did not produce any quality chances outside of the lone goal.

The Spirit played a dynamic second half, putting together numerous attacking sequences that had the Beat on their heels. The penalty kick call came in the 83rd minute on a corner kick from the left side that flew into the middle. Fleeting, battling with Hooper near the penalty spot, was dragged down and referee Sandra Hunt point to the penalty spot. Foudy stepped up to drill a perfect shot past the flying Scurry for her second penalty kick goal in as many weeks and her second score of the season.

There was more drama left in the match however as both teams continued to pound away for a winner. Substitute Abby Crumpton had a chance to win it in stoppage time after the Spirit gave away the ball in the back, but Pagliarulo came up with a big save once again.

Then in the 92nd minute, the Spirit counter-attacked off a Beat corner kick and Fleeting put Zhang Ouying in on a 50-yard breakaway. Nancy Augustyniak gave chase, and caught the Chinese international just outside the penalty area, knocking her down from behind. Hunt immediately issued the Beat defender a red card, but Wagner's free kick from 19 yards out, and the Spirit last gasp at a winner, hit the wall.

Fleeting, who played another great match for the Spirit, had two great chances in the first half. In the 35th minute, she ran onto a cross from Wagner and hit a falling volley, but Scurry dove to bat the ball away on a point blank save. In the 43rd minute, a Kim Pickup flip throw bounced around in the penalty area and fell to the Scottish international, who volleyed a shot that was going into the goal before it hit Allie Sullivan in the hip..

Both goalkeepers were stellar on the night as Pagliarulo made club-record 10 saves and Scurry was magnificent in the air, grabbing almost everything that flew into the penalty area, while making five saves. The Beat got one of its best chances off a booming Scurry punt that traveled 70 yards to Hooper, who out-muscled Joy Fawcett, then popped the ball over Pagliarulo, only to watch it bounce left of the goal. Atlanta's long balls stretched the Spirit defense the entire night and midfielder Homare Sawa also played very well in the middle for the Beat.

Pagliarulo had a great save in the 64th minute after Maribel Dominguez burst open momentarily in the right side of the penalty area, but the Spirit goalkeeper pushed the ball away. Kylie Bivens played a great match for the Spirit, creating danger all match down the right flank, but Kerry Connors did the same for the Spirit, beating numerous players on the dribble during the game.

Zhang had a great chance just after coming into the match in the 73rd minute, but drove her volley right at Scurry. Substitute Susan Bush almost had a spectacular goal in the 79th minute, but her sliding volley went wide right. The Spirit's next match is at home next weekend against the Philadelphia Charge on Saturday, June 7, at 6 p.m. PT at Torero Stadium.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 1, 2003


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