Thought I'd start this since the other thread was getting kinda large. Yeah, so 58 isn't large, but still...I'll start it by putting up the socceramerica article: http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562131968 scroll down about halfway for the Freedom bit. now i'm going to bed. if anybody wants to wait up for the WT article, good for you
I am so HAPPY!!!! I can't seem to put together any reasonably coherent thoughts right now. OMG Dude!!! We're going to the cup!!!!!! Ok i want full reports from you all who went. I want full details don't leave anything out!!!!!
Great result. I disagree with the play by play and also the TV announcers. We were not dominated the first half. They may have had more of the play in the first half but we had 3 excellent chances with Bai forcing a great save after a flick on by Abby, Cook hitting the corssbar and Steffie barely missing. Great to be in the final. Good shots of the Freedom fans during the game and after. Saw Ron after the goal and also at the fence after the game.
This isn't really post match, but I'm putting it here anyway: Grubb Goes the Distance by Kathryn Hamm I'm pretty sure this is the same article as the post match write-up they have on the main WUSA page, but here's the one they have posted on the Freedom page as well: Gerardo Goal Sends Freedom to Founders Cup II If I find anything else, you'll see it here
I found this on the Charge board posted by Charge!: Charge lacks late heroics in semifinal by Laura Borden The Daily Times
From the Trenton (NJ) Times: http://www.nj.com/sports/times/index.ssf?/base/sports-3/102966481439892.xml
Freedom section Just wanted to say how AWESOME the Freedom section was yesterday. You guys looked great and sounded even better. There was more red in the crowd, but not more noise by the Phlly fans. My daughter and I were on the opposite side of the field. We had a little shade, but you guys had way more fun. Overbeck in overtime...WOOHOO!! FREEDOM-COURAGE Perfect!
Freedom topple Charge in semifinals, 1-0 A familiar ending awaited Philadelphia as Mia and co. roll on. by David Matishen CyberSoccerNews ------------- excerpt from article: There was a moment of controversy in the 20th minute when Abby Wambach ran to receive a ball in space that was picked up by Moore just inside the box. Wambach didn't stop in time and knocked over Moore. Referee Sandra Hunt just gave Wambach an earful, but didn't give her a card and she was booed by the Philly faithful. However, it was the right call, because Wambach was going too fast to slow down in time to miss Moore. She later did get a yellow card for another hit but it was more likely for an accumulation of hits and tackles. ------------- Couldn't have said that better myself.
You know, after reading that article, I noticed it was a Charge article. For anyone who read that article, did you notice the offside during the goal by Abby? I didn't...I'll go back and look.
Abby was definitely in an offside position during the goal, but my understanding is that it wasn't called because she didn't take part in the play.
The pass was to JACQUI, Abby was nowhere near receiving the ball and thus passively offside. That is NEVER called. Is Philly really getting their panties in a knot over THAT?!
Having read the article, this guy needs his head examined. Abby was well out of the play on the ball into J Little - AR would have been an idiot to call that offside. He also whines about Pu Wei shoving Clemens to win the ball - looks like they both had the arms out and Pu just won the 50-50 ball. Then he whines about Clemens not getting a PK later but conveniently ignores the fact she ran Carrie Moore over from behind to get to the 18 to begin with - why no call on that? Oh yeah, no complaints about the three Charge handballs that were missed, one which would have been a PK for us. I know CyberSoccerNews is an all-volunteer effort, but they should be able to do better than this...
From the article: I'm getting sick of these Philly whiners! Particularly when they don't even know the rules. First, Pu Wei and Mandy Clemens are shoulder-to-shoulder fighting for the ball. Pu Wei wins. Is that EVER called a foul? Second, passing the ball to onsides player A when player B is offsides is not an infraction.
My photos from the game, such as they are. You can see DCU in the photo of the fans - he's in the silly hat right behind the left-hand end of the Crusaders banner. EccentricBrit is holding his cheerstix off to the left.
"A patchwork flag representing the nationalities of all of the Freedom players ...." I guess she didn't recognize the flag of DC!
That's exactly what I thought. This article had an obvious Philly slant. No one else has mentioned any offside infraction. You know why? Because there wasn't one. I swear...some people need to get their facts straight before they go spewing nonsense and make themselves look like idiots.
The pass was to JACQUI, Abby was nowhere near receiving the ball and thus passively offside. That is NEVER called. Is Philly really getting their panties in a knot over THAT?! I have seen that called several times this year.
When the ball wasn't even within five yards of going through the D's restraining line? Would have been the worst offside call of all-time if the flag want up and that AR would never have done another WUSA game. Laws of the Game state that it is not an offense in and of itself to be in an offside position - it's only to be called if the player in question gains an advantage by being so. Abby gained no advantage whatsoever on Pu's pass to Jacqui.