Freedom down Atlanta 2-1 in overtime
Return to W-League Championship tournament
Saturday, July 26, 2008
ATLANTA, GA -- The Atlanta Silverbacks’ 2008 W-League season ended much like the 2007 campaign did, at the hands of the Washington Freedom. The Freedom dominated in possession throughout the Eastern Conference Championship game, but only squeaked by the Silverbacks 2-1 in overtime thanks to a 118th minute goal from Ali Andrzejewski.
With the win, the Freedom (13-1-2) move on to defend their W-League title as part of the final four with the Pali Blues and the winners of the Central and Western conference playoffs.
Last year in the W-League Championship game, Rebecca Moros scored in the first minute of play and Christie Welsh doubled the advantage in the 40th. Atlanta’s Sarah Steinmann found Krista Davey to cut the deficit in the 67th only to see Washington secure the win on a goal from Tiffany McCarty two minutes from time in Rochester, NY.
This time, the Freedom handed the Silverbacks (14-1-1) their first loss of the year at its most critical juncture.
Washington had the run of play throughout the first half, keeping up constant pressure on the Atlanta goal from the opening whistle, but Ashley Phillips made some aggressive plays on the ball to help keep it scoreless.
The Freedom outshot the Silverbacks 11-2 in the first half and 28-11 overall, but Atlanta made their first half chances count with Christine Latham cashing in on the team’s second shot of the half in the 23rd minute to give the Silverbacks the 1-0 edge at the break.
Washington kept up the pressure through the rest of the half, with the best chance coming when Lori Lindsey took a shot from long distance that Phillips just pushed up into the crossbar.
Welsh and Ella Masar both followed with chances on the same sequence, but the Atlanta keeper made the save on Welsh’s shot and then collected the loose ball before Masar could get off a shot to keep the Silverbacks’ 1-0 edge.
Phillips made six first half saves and nine overall, including a diving save on a shot from Welsh in the last few minutes of the first half.
Atlanta applied more pressure on the Washington net early in second half with Latham taking a point-blank shot off a corner kick, but Chante Sandiford made the save for the Freedom.
Phillips got into trouble in the 60th minute when she took down Welsh inside box, drawing a yellow card and giving Washington a spot kick. Rebecca Moros took the penalty kick but shot it right at Phillips, who then corralled the rebound to keep it the Freedom scoreless.
Washington vamped the pressure back up as the second half wore on with it paying off in the 77th minute when Welsh one-touched a pass from Emily Janss past Phillips to tie the score at 1-1.
Atlanta went into a defensive shell late in the second half, allowing numerous chances for the Freedom, particularly through corner kicks, which the Freedom held a 19-4 edge in for the match. However, Washington wasn’t able to cash in on any of them with Silverbacks defender Ronda Brooks saving a shot off the line in stoppage time to send the game into overtime.
The overtime periods continued much like regulation with Washington having the bulk of the chances and Atlanta sneaking in a few chances, including a near miss by Latham on a header off of a feed from Tara Minnax near the end of the first overtime period.
The Freedom’s constant attack resulted in the game-winner in the 118th minute when Andrzejewski tucked a pass from Welsh into the back of the net past a diving Phillips for the final 2-1 margin.
The Freedom advanced to the W-League Championship tournament starting July 31 at the Virginia Beach SportsPlex. Hosted by the Hampton Roads Piranhas, the Semifinals will be July 31 with the Championship match August 2, which will be aired on Fox Soccer Channel.
