Zhao Leads Charge to Win, 3-1
Published on August 3, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
VILLANOVA, PA (August 3, 2002) - Zhao Lihong had three assists and Marinette Pichon scored her team-leading 14th goal of the season to propel the playoff-bound Philadelphia Charge to a 3-1 win over the San Diego Spirit on Saturday night. Stacey Tullock and Erica Iverson also scored for the Charge (11-3-5, 38 pts), who won for the first time in four games (1-2-1) to remain in first place and secure a postseason berth for the second straight year.
Zhao's three assists were the most ever recorded by a Charge player, as her team maintained a two-point lead over the Carolina Courage in the eight-team WUSA standings.
The Charge entered the game already aware they had clinched a playoff spot, as earlier in the day the Courage beat the San Jose CyberRays, 4-1. Entering Saturday's games, a Philadelphia win or a San Jose loss was needed for the Charge to clinch.
Next on the list for Philadelphia will be clinching homefield advantage for the semifinal round on Saturday, August 17. An Atlanta loss or tie on Sunday against the Washington Freedom will guarantee a semifinal game at Villanova Stadium.
Charge goalkeeper Melissa Moore had seven saves for Philadelphia, who beat the Spirit for the first time this season (1-1-1). The Charge lead the all-time series against San Diego 3-1-2.
Pichon returned to the lineup after a two-game absence for Philadelphia. Pichon, from France, had been sidelined with a big left toe injury. The Charge played without starting defender Heather Mitts, who continues to suffer from a hip pointer injury. Lorrie Fair started in the back for Mitts, while Liu Ailing earned a start in the midfield for Fair.
With the score tied at 1-1, the Charge took the lead for good when Iverson headed home a pass from Jenny Benson in the 65th minute. Iverson's header came from about six yards out and was also assisted by Zhao, who passed a short corner to Benson at the top right corner of the penalty box. Iverson had just beaten San Diego keeper Carly Smolak to the ball, recording her second goal of the season.
Philadelphia then put the game out of reach in the 71st minute, as Zhao's corner kick from the left was punched directly to Pichon, who side-volleyed the ball home, scoring one of the nicest goals of the season.
Zhao now has a goal and seven assists for nine points in her last eight games
"After all the practices and the games, I feel a lot better with the team," Zhao said through an interpreter after the game.
Following a scoreless first half , the Charge got the scoring started. Tullock recorded her first career goal and points, heading home a corner kick from Zhao in the 52nd minute by beating Smolak to the ball, deflecting it home in the 52nd minute.
"We wanted to have Lihong take the corners in the first half too, but apparently I didn't communicate it well enough," head coach Mark Krikorian said. "But in the second half we got it right."
The Spirit answered right back two minutes later when Jen Mascaro headed home a pass from Amy Sauer, who crossed the ball from the left corner after taking a pass from Fan Yungie.
San Diego nearly got on the board in the 42nd minute when Julie Fleeting took a long pass up the middle of the field at the top of the box. Moore charged out to contest Fleeting, making the initial save. However, the ball skirted through and Jen Tietjen was forced to recover and kick the ball out of danger.
The Charge had a couple of good opportunities in the first half. Zhao Lihong's free kick from 20 yards out went just over the post in the 25th minute, and then Rebekah McDowell broke down the right flank, but her shot was riffled wide of the near post.
Coming out of the locker room, after an official's non-call on what could have been ruled a penalty kick for the Charge, Moore had to come up big making a diving save on a Shannon MacMillan free kick from 30 yards out in the 52nd minute. Prior to that, Pichon was taken down in the penalty area, but official Terry Vaughn didn't make the call.
NOTES: Mitts has missed three of the last four games because of the hip pointer injury that she suffered while with the U.S. National Team ... Tickets for a possible Charge home playoff game went on sale this past Thursday. Call your local Ticketmaster outlet or the Charge ticket office at 215-467-GOAL for more information.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 3, 2002
- Charge, Zhao Beat Spirit - WUSA
- Philly Wins 3-1 Over San Diego - Philadelphia Charge
- Philadelphia-San Diego Quote Sheet - Philadelphia Charge
- Zhao Leads Charge to Win, 3-1 - Philadelphia Charge
- Prinz Helps Courage Whip San Jose - WUSA
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