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Sun, Jun 14th 2009, 11:22
Scoreless Tie Keeps Freedom in Second
Entering yesterday, the Washington Freedom led Women’s Professional Soccer not just in goals scored (16) but also in goals allowed (18). In front of 5,049 at RFK Stadium, however, Washington played to an uncharacteristic 0-0 tie with the Chicago Red Stars.
The Freedom (3-3-4, 13 points) reached the halfway point of the inaugural WPS season and, despite the tie, maintained its narrow hold on second place in the league. The Red Stars (2-3-5, 11 points) moved into a four-way tie for third place, two points behind the Freedom.
An apparent goal by Washington’s Abby Wambach in the 51st minute was waved off when she was whistled offside. Another chance failed when Allie Long’s shot from the top of the box was weakly struck and easily picked up by Chicago goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson.
When reminded of the shot after the game, Long offered a pained sigh and said, “I don’t know, it was wide open, but the touch was too close to me and I couldn’t get a full swing on it.” The Freedom had eight shots on goal, while the Red Stars had just one.
The scoreless game was the first shutout for Washington, playing with a reinforced back line, but also the first time its prolific offense had been unable to score since the season opener against Los Angeles.
Joining the Freedom was defender Ali Krieger, a U.S. national team pool player who joined the team for the first time this season due to her commitment to a team in Frankfurt, Germany.
Long said Krieger brings to the team an element the Freedom has been lacking.
“She’s been playing overseas and she has that intensity and toughness that I think when you go overseas you develop,” Long said.
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