press release - post-match report - wps playoffs 2010 - washington freedom vs. philadelphia...
TRANSCRIPT
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7/29/2019 Press Release - Post-match report - WPS Playoffs 2010 - Washington Freedom vs. Philadelphia Independence
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WashingtonFreedoms2010WPSPlayoffRunEndsWitha120th
MinuteAmyRodriguezGoal
The2010WPSPlayoffspresentedbyMedImmunekickedofftodayinWestChester,
PAasWashingtonFreedomfacedoffagainstPhiladelphiaIndependence.Amy
RodriguezputanendtoFreedoms2010Playoffrunwithagoalinthe120thminute.
ThematchbeganwithFreedomcontrollingmuchofthepossessionandcreating
opportunitiesinfrontofthegoal.Quickly,thematchswitchedgearswhen
MagnussdottirgotbehindtheFreedomdefenseontheleftflankandservedahard
shotatthegoal,savedbyFreedomgoalkeeperAshlynHarris.Independencewouldcontinuetocreateopportunities.
OnanIndependencefreekick,SoniaBompastorwasabletodeflecttheinitialkick,butIndependencerecoveredandLianneSandersonshotoutofthepackcreatinga
one-on-oneattackagainstHarris.Harris,withhersplitsecondreactions,wasableto
comeupwiththesave.
Soonafter,IndependencefedAmyRodriqueztheball.Shespedbehindthedefense,
buthershotwenthigh.
FreedombegantocontroltheballagainjustbeforethehalfafterNikkiMarshall
battledtheballallthewayupthefieldtocreateaFreedomopportunity,butthe
crosswentwide.
TheveryphysicalsecondhalfopenedwithIndependencequicklydominating.Jen
BuczkowskithreatenedFreedom'sgoalsendingalongballjustwide.
Inthe65thminute,WambachbeattheIndependencedefense,fedtheballtoLene
Mykjaland,whosentitrightbacktoWambachwithonetouch.Wambachwasable
toslidetotheball,buttheshotwentwiderightofthegoal.
Freedomsawanotherchanceinthe77thminute.AFreedomcornerkickwas
clearedfromtheboxthenrecoveredbyWambachwhofedtheballbackintothe
box,butthelobbedshotbyLeneMykjalandwentjustoverthegoal.
IndependencequicklycamebackforacounterattacktwominuteslaterasLori
Lindseysentarocketintotheuppercornerofthegoal,butFreedom'sHarriswas
abletomakeanincrediblereachingsave.ThedeflectionfelltothefeetofRodriquez
whosenttheballbackatthegoal,butHarris,whohadjusthitthegroundfromthe
previoussave,wasabletomakeaquickkicksaveallowingFreedomdefensetoclear
theball.
Harrismadeatleastfivebigsaves,whenmostgamesyouexpectonlyoneortwo,
saidFreedomHeadCoachJimGabarra.Shecertainlyplayedanincrediblegame.
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7/29/2019 Press Release - Post-match report - WPS Playoffs 2010 - Washington Freedom vs. Philadelphia Independence
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Playwouldcontinuetogoback-and-forththeremainderofthesecondhalfbefore
thewhistleblewtosignaltheendofregulation.
Afterashortbreak,theWPSFirstRoundmatchcontinuedintotwo15-minutehalvesofextratimemarkingthefirsttimeaWPSgamehasneededextratimetobe
decided.Bothteamswouldcontinuetobattlethroughtiredlegsuntilthe120th
minute.
Inthefinalminuteofextratime,Rodriguezwassentaballatthetopoftheboxfrom
ChristinaDiMartino.RodriguezbrokefreeofFreedom'sdefenseandshottheballpastHarrisintothebackofthenetendingFreedom's2010WPSPlayoffrun.
Weplayedourheartsout.FromdayonewehavebecomeabetterteamandinthelongrunIamproudofmyplayers,saidAbbyWambach.ImProudofustolast
throughoutanentiregameovertimeandtryingtowinattheend.
TheWPSPlayoffspresentedbyMedImmunecontinueonThursday,Sept.23asthe
BostonBreakershostthePhiladelphiaIndependenceintheWPSSuperSemifinal
(8pmET/5pmPTonFSC).ThewinnerofthatmatchwilladvancetofaceFCGold
PrideintheWPSChampionshippresentedbyCitionSunday,Sept.26(2:30pmET/
11:30amPTonFSN).
AdditionalQuotes:
JimGabarra
Harrismadeatleastfivebigsaves,whenmostgamesyouexpectonlyoneor
twoshecertainlyplayedanincrediblegame
Bothteamswereprettyleglessattheend...A-Rodisverydangerous
Iwouldhavefeltconfidentwithahotgoalkeeper(goingintoPKs),butshejust
couldntgettothatone(AmyRodriguezgoal).
AbbyWambach
Itcouldhavebeena3-0gameeasily.A-rodhadplentyofchancesandforthat
reasonIhadabeliefweweregoingtowinandthoughtthesoccerGodswereonour
sidebutsoccerisalonggame.
Itsanexcitingtimeandhasbeenalongseason.Iamproudofthisteamforfighting
ourwayintotheplayoffs.
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7/29/2019 Press Release - Post-match report - WPS Playoffs 2010 - Washington Freedom vs. Philadelphia Independence
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ItsbetterthegameisdeterminedonthefieldthaninPKs.
Ourfinalpasswasthethingthatwaymissing.Wecontrolledalotofthemiddle.We
justcouldntgetthatfinalballin.
Weplayedourheartsout.Fromdayonewehavebecomeabetterteamandinthe
longrunIamproudofmyplayers.Proudofustolastthroughoutanentiregame
overtimeandtryingtowinattheend.
IthinkAshlynwastheMVPofthewholegame...Foragoalkeeperyouaskherto
make1or2savesagametokeepyouintoit,butAshlyndidfarmorethanthat.Iamveryproudofherbecauseshecameoffthebenchandreallyhelpedusoutthis
seasonmadekeysavestogetusintotheplayoffsandIthinkitsfittingshekeptus
inthisplayoffgame.
AshlynHarris
Welostamarkinthelastcoupleofsecondsofthegameandthelastpersonyou
wanttoloseisARod,becausewhenshegetsachanceandits5to6yardsoutsidethe
goalshesgoingtoputitaway.Andthatswhatshedid.
Acredittoourteam,thishasntbeenaneasyroadatall,itsbeenanincredible
journey.AndImjustsothrilledthatIgettoseethesegirlseverydayandits
unfortunatethatourseasoncomestoanendhereIvehadagreatrunasarookie.
Imleavingherewithmyheadup,ImconfidentknowingIdideverythingIcould
everygametohelpthisteam.
Thisisthegameofsoccer.Ballsbouncefunnyways.Peoplecomeupandmakebig
saves,greatfinishes.AttheendofthedaythatswhythegamessoexcitingWehadablasttoday,unfortunatelywedidntcomeoutontop.Ithappens.