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WPS Sky Blue FC

Wambach, De Vanna Propel Freedom Past Sky Blue FC

August 8, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


BOYDS, MD - Abby Wambach connected twice and Lisa De Vanna added a goal as the Washington Freedom clinched third place in the Women's Professional Soccer regular season with a 3-1 victory over Sky Blue FC at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The Freedom will host the opening round of the WPS Playoffs next Saturday at 4 p.m.

Rosana scored the only goal for Sky Blue FC (7-8-5, 26 pts.), which currently holds fourth place and the final spot in the playoffs. Sky Blue FC will have to wait until tomorrow for the team's playoff future to be determined. If the Boston Breakers (7-8-4, 25 pts.) can defeat the Los Angeles Sol, Sky Blue FC would be eliminated from contention. A win or a tie by the Sol would send Sky Blue FC into the match against Washington next Saturday.

The Freedom (8-7-5, 29 pts.) came out attacking early and was the better team in the first half. After heading the ball just over the bar in the 14th minute, Rebecca Moros set up the opening goal for the Freedom in the 19th minute when she crossed a ball in from the right side for Wambach to finish from close range.

The combination of Wambach and De Vanna was dangerous all night with DeVanna setting up Wambach for a flick past the far post in the 27th minute.

Sky Blue FC put together a prolonged offensive spurt later in the opening half but came away empty from its efforts. In the 33rd minute, Yael Averbuch played a nice ball behind for Natasha Kai and the Sky Blue FC striker lifted the ball over charging Freedom keeper Erin McLeod but wide of the goal. A minute later, Heather O'Reilly sent a serve into the box that Rosana headed wide and in the 36th minute, Kacey White lined a deflection off an O'Reilly cross over the bar.

McLeod came up with a crucial intervention in the final minute of the opening half touching a dangerous shot from Rosana over the bar to preserve the Freedom's lead heading into halftime.

Washington struck for a timely goal four minutes into the second half thanks to the De Vanna-Wambach combination. De Vanna carried the ball up the left side and sent a great low cross through the box for Wambach to finish easily into an open goal at the far post.

Rosana provided the only scoring for Sky Blue FC in the 53rd minute on great shot from out of nowhere. With a defender in front of her, the Brazilian midfield pushed the ball to her left and hooked a left-footed shot into the upper right corner from 25 yards out.

However, Washington responded four minutes later to regain the two-goal edge. Wambach sent in a hard, low cross from the right for the Australian striker to touch inside the left post from eight yards out.

Sky Blue FC got chances the rest of the way but couldn't knock one in the back of the net. Kai's header was cleared off the line by Becky Sauerbrunn in the 64th minute and Rosana curled a free kick off the top of bar from 25 yards out in the 85th minute.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from August 8, 2009


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