BEST WISHES Sky Blue FC made the playoffs!! Come down to Maryland on August 15th at 4:00PM to watch the first round! If you are unable to make the game and would like to leave the team with extra support, feel free to send an email to bestwishes@skybluesoccer.com and wish the girls luck. Also, make sure to watch live on FSN at 4PM.
Sky Blue FC is offering fans the opportunity to ride a bus together to the Sky Blue FC vs. Washington Freedom match on Saturday! Forget about driving and save money on gas! Take the bus with the rest of the Sky Blue FC fans - transportation and a ticket to the game for $50. Bus will leave from Somerset, N.J. at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and return at approximately 10 p.m. Bring your own refreshments for a pregame tailgate party at the Maryland SoccerPlex! Wear your Sky Blue FC gear and show your support! To book your seat, call the Sky Blue FC ticket department at 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849).
Ugh, the game is TAPE-DELAYED on MSG+ at 6:00. I have no clue why, neither MSG nor MSG+ have anything worth showing from 4-6.
hmm.... random Q, it may not even apply today, but: I'm stuck with Matchtracker. Anyone know what it'll do if OT and/or PKs are necessary?
btw It's looking good for NJ as of right now, at least on Matchracker: only 8' and NJ has outshot WSH 5-1. =-)
I'm watching on Fox Sports Midwest. Biggest surprise for me was Hanks starting. I guess Rampone is saving Kai for the end, in case it goes to overtime.
Rosana came close on that one. Just didn't quite get over the top of it, although McLeod may have had it covered. Followed by O'Reilly beating a defender to get off a shot, but deflects off of another defenders legs right to McLeod. This is really a game of patience. Both teams are playing very conservatively defensively. Neither wants to get beat, so there giving the other team room.
Everybody is playing conservative except Branam. She's gone a good 15 yards out of the box twice now to win 50-50 balls.
yes they are both playing conservative. although all it takes is 1 team to score, the other will have no choice but to go all out, and the insanity will begun
Definitely tentative. Washington looks like they are waiting for Sky Blue to make a mistake and then get a quick ball through to DeVanna hoping her speed will beat the defense. They've been close two or three times. Sky Blue has been giving the Freedom room to bring it up for the most part. I'm a little surprised Washington went with Gilbeau at midfield. But I guess they would rather have Krieger's experience on the back line rather than move her up. Long hasn't started much late in the year since her toe injury, so they're probably saving her. Looked to me like Wambach was conserving energy as much as possible. DeVanna, on the other hand, hasn't been. So it will be interesting to see their subs and when they make them. Sky Blue has had a lot of shots, but since I've been watching (about the 16 minute mark), they really haven't had much from close in. Most from the edge the penalty area and out. Rosana's was probably the best chance I saw. Sky Blue has been a little careless at time with passes in the midfield, but they haven't been burned yet. Hanks looks like she's about done in. She isn't used to playing long minutes anymore and it's pretty warm. I think we'll see Kai pretty soon. It's my feeling that Sky Blue's biggest edge is in the midfield, but I haven't noticed it all that much, except for Rosana being dangerous a few times. The play has not been nearly as one sided as the shots.
Almost a goal! DeVanna crosses to Krieger, just over the bar. First sub and tactical change. Singer in for Gilbeau and they move Krieger up to provide more speed and attack in the midfield. Almost worked right off the bat.
My biggest griping point of the year...AR's and offsides. Rosana called for offsides. No angle on television so I don't know for sure, but DeVanna was definitely off once in the 1st half on similar play and it went uncalled. The AR's have been so inconsistent (bad) on offsides this year. 53rd minute and Kai is up to come in.
WOW...people are actually posting here. Best wishes to SkyBlue on their first ever WPS playoff game. Washington has had the better chances so far and Branham has been quite the daredevil but you guys are hanging tough and could squeak this out. You never know. Hope Solo said earlier today that she prefers facing SkyBlue.
Kai's in the game for a minute and scores! White pops ball up in the air and Whitehill and Sauerbrunn are kind of flat footed. Kai runs between them, bodies it down to her feet and puts it in.
I tell you, if Sky Blue wants to win this match, they better limit the Freedom's set pieces, because Washington scores a lot on those and on headers. Singer with a good chance from about 10 yards, but doesn't get off much of a shot. Washington has definitely picked up the intensity now. Francielle in for McCallum. Big surprise there. She has only played in one game for Sky Blue and not a lot of experience. Nice dive by Abby. Kai is through but hits the post. I guess she was called offsides. I've got the sound down because I can't stand the...
Long in for Moros. I swear, DeVanna never wears out. 70 minutes into the game she's chasing down the keeper to try and block and kick out. Francielle just wide of the post, but McLeod had it covered. Parker for White. Last substitution.