The Charge defense gave up a 90th minute goal to Allie Kemp, of all people, spolied yet another clean sheet for Melissa Moore and the visitors had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Breakers in a game which appears they were outplayed and Moore kept them in it. Liu Ailing tallied the second goal of her season in the past 2 games in the 83rd minute, but alarmingly, the Charge simply could not hold the lead again late. Final Stats: Shots: 11-5, Boston SOG: 4-3 Boston Fouls: 14-3, Philly (Beat-esque...) Offsides: 4-1, Boston Corners: 3-2, Boston Saves: 3-2 Philly Charge still need one win to make a playoff spot and two for a home semifinal. We'll have to wait until the game report, but Alfiler came in for Benson just a minute before the game-tying goal. Lorrie Fair was subbed out in the 62nd minute, which is unusual for her. Ugh. And San Jose awaits in Spartan. Paul
I read the Breakers web page update and the wusa.com one. From what I can tell, we lucked out to get the draw. Ducar apparently miskicked a long ball and it went to Liu who just kicked it over Ducar for the goal.
At least Boston is officially eliminated now. They only have two games left, and the best they can do is 24 points and Atlanta already has 25 going into tonight's Carolina game, so they're toast. The Washington and San Jose results do not help matters, however. But we did get one point. It's something... Paul
San Diego is out as well, if the Atlanta-Carolina result holds up, and that's in single digit minutes as I write this... Paul
Means 5 still in with 4 spots and it look like one of the other 3 San Jose, Atlanta ,Wash will not make becase they play each other
A check of da schedule reveals this: San Jose: Wednesday: Philly (last home game) Next Saturday: at Carolina 8/7: at Philadelphia 8/10: at Boston Atlanta: Wednesday: at San Diego 8/4: at Washington 8/7: San Diego 8/10 Philly Washington: Wednesday: at Carolina 8/4: Atlanta 8/10: at New York Paul
Maybe not. San Diego has to run the table, and they play Atlanta twice in their last 4 games. So they can win the season series with the Beat and get in IF San Jose collapses. I donut think San Jose will be doing any of that Paul
It could've been worst... We could have lost the game, and who knows what that would have done to the psyche of the team, and team chemistry as a whole. It's in a bit of tatters now, I think, but they have to cling to the belief that they dodged a bullet, cause if they lost tonight, the wheels could have come off. We got a point, Carolina lost (in more ways than one - I mean they REALLY lost it at the end, with Fettig, Prinz and Roberts jawing with the Beat; Fettig shoving a player and getting yellowed, and Roberts got red-carded and now has to sit out the Washington match Wednesday). We did extend our lead on the Courage for the regular season title to 2 points. Now we need just 2 wins. Two measly wins out of our last four for a home semifinal and not have all our playoff ticket $ carried over to next year. Just play .500 soccer starting next Wednesday, Charge, and I'll be happy. But the late-game collapse is something to be very, Very, VERY concerned about. This CANNOT continue after tonight. Purest and simplest. Let this be the ABSOLUTE LAST time we talk about a late-game collapse. OK? Paul
I still think it look good for the Charge. Even if they have not played the last 10 min of the last two games.Did you hear anything on Pichon.In the paper it did not sound like mark was to worried
I would have held her out until next Saturday, but with how things turned out again, you'll see the "A" team in San Jose Wednesday, including Pichon. Will be interesting to read the post-game comments from Coach K tomorrow...still, he can't be a happy-happy-joy-joy camper, I suspect, even though we got the point. Paul
Re: It could've been worst... And treat Liu Ailing to anything she wants to eat or imbibe in the post-game dinner. She may have saved their season tonight Paul
I think Sebe, Adam or Chargefans may have a better read on that, as I had to bolt as soon as it ended to catch the 9:20 R5 local back to center city, then I just made it onto the R7 Trenton line with about a full minute to spare Paul
I was at the game too .My nephew was standing right next to her by the fence she was not happy i thought it was becase of the lost and she did have a limp but did not think much of it
Better late than never.....the starting lineups!!! Us: Moore, TIMBer Line, Connors, Fair, Monroe, McDowell, Lihong, Clemens Them: Ducar, Kluegel, Aldama, Sobrero, McCann, Borisjuk, Wiegmann, Hucles, Lilly, Meinert, Mellgren (got that from the Boston Breakers website, BTW...) Paul
Re: Fair Not sure if it is going to appear as an "injury" but she was icing her head/neck after she came off the field-
Is this another case of not getting it up against losing teams? I pity the CyberSquid. They're gonna face the A-team.
Gosh I really could not believe it when I read that the courage had lost. WOO HOO!! That totally boosted my entire mood up, after I had found out that the charge had almost won, but tied. I thought that the courage were unbeatable by the other teams, but, boy, was I wrong!! ' PROPS TO THE ATLANTA BEAT!!! THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!!
"We feel fortunate coming away with a tie." Krikorian in the post-game press conference last night. "Boston was better than us today. Maybe there was some justice in the fact that they scored a goal later on." An ominous sign; he doesn't know when Pichon will return. Coach again: "We have to adjust. We need other people to step in and take a little bit more responsibility." The thing is, though, when you lose both your offensive aces, you simply can't replace them and expect things to stay at the same level. There will be a falloff. I don't think Pichon will be in San Jose after reading this in the Inquirer today... Maybe we better be prepared for Life Without Marinette... Paul
I do have to agree with Coach K's comment..and funny, the bench didn't appear to be too surprised or anything after Kemp scored. Perhaps the emotional level (which was still running very high) after the goal was a bit less.. or in attempting to maintain the goal lead... For sure, I feel for Philly's next opponent... I cannot imagine that they will have anything but a win.... and with full force ahead... One good thing about the game ... there were a TON of Philly fans in the crowd.. shouting random "Go Charge!" chants - beyond chargefans every now and then when the stadium was quiet... I'm guessing about 150 ish were friends/family of the Charge..