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The Breakers celebrate Kelly Smith's 2nd minute goal Saturday night against Los Angeles. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
A Kelly Smith strike in the second minute got Boston off to a flying start, and Kristine Lilly�s goal in the 55th minute proved to be the game-winner in a 2-1 victory at Harvard Stadium.
It was a complete turnaround in a week�s time, something head coach Tony DiCicco attributed to a renewed sense of focus.
�Any team, no matter what your talent is, if you don�t commit to the game you�re not going to be successful. I don�t think we had a good commitment to the match last week,� DiCicco said. �The key for this game was just mentality.�
The win gives Boston 9 points through five matches and brings them within a point of L.A. Chicago, in third place on 8 points, is idle this weekend.
�We had something to prove,� said Lilly. �We let ourselves down last weekend, but the great thing about this league is you always have another game� We were coming back home to our crowd and we didn�t want to necessarily embarrass ourselves at home, so we stepped it up tonight.�
The crowd of 8,031 - WPS�s second highest attendance this season - had plenty to cheer for early on. The Breakers earned a corner just 24 seconds into the match and scored just 44 seconds later.
A cross from left back Heather Mitts was cleared only as far as Smith, standing a step outside the penalty area. The English international stepped into a left-footed volley and fired it toward the right side of the net. There was little Sol keeper and former Breaker Karina LeBlanc could do about it, and Boston had a one-goal lead.
L.A. defender Martina Franko made two great plays on either side of the 12th minute to prevent Boston from doubling its lead. Breakers right back Alex Scott sent in Lilly with a pass from wing, but Franko was able to block the veteran midfielder�s shot. Just seconds later, Boston forward Christine Latham crossed from the right to a charging Lilly, but Franko stuck in a key challenge to stop the play.
Boston came out in a 4-4-2, with Latham and Kelly Schmedes up top. Both players were physical and made things difficult for the L.A. backline, something DiCicco has been looking for.
�I thought that was the best game by our forwards, defensively,� DiCicco said. �I�m not asking them to run all over the place, but they have to eliminate options and make it easier for the midfield.�
In that midfield, Angela Hucles starting in the holding role, a spot Kasey Moore had held for the first four games. The move seemed to bring a certain level of composure to the midfield, as ball movement and retention was much improved from previous games.
�I thought our midfield did pretty well,� said keeper Kristin Luckenbill. �That�s a really solid spot for the Sol, also. But I really liked having Ange back there. She�s very calm and cool on the ball and always seems to be in the right place� It was nice to have her back there. I know it�s not her normal spot, but for her first time in that position I thought she played tremendously.�
Stacy Bishop earned her second straight start on the right side of the midfield, and she had the assist on Lilly�s goal. From the right side about 50 yards away from goal, Bishop lofted a long ball in Lilly�s direction on the left side of the field. Sol right back Manya Makoski perhaps could have done better, missing her attempt to head the ball clear and allowing Lilly to collect just outside the box. Lilly took care of the rest, though, taking a few dribbles into the area and slotting her shot inside the far post for the 2-0 lead.
DiCicco has liked what he�s seen from Bishop so far, and believes the best is yet to come from the 24-year old.
�We�re investing in Stacy. She�s got something,� DiCicco said. �She doesn�t realize how good she can be, so my job is to draw that out of her.�
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L.A.'s Shannon Boxx (7) fouls Boston keeper Kristin Luckenbill in a desperate attempt at an equalizer in injury time Saturday night. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
The Sol got one back, albeit under controversial circumstances, in the 63rd minute. Aya Miyama sent in a free kick from the left flank toward the near post, and Brittany Bock appeared to use her right arm to knock it into the net.
Despite the protestations from several Boston players, referee Kari Seitz allowed the goal to stand.
�I think their goal was a gift by the referee, who is supposed to be the most experienced referee in the league,� DiCicco said. �I like her. We�re friends, but I just thought that she helped them a little bit today, and certainly getting that goal made their road back a lot closer.�
While the Sol enjoyed the majority of possession in the last 25 minutes, their quality chances were kept to a minimum, thanks to resolute defending from Boston�s back line. Amy LePeilbet was immense in the middle, facing three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and Chinese international Han Duan and keeping them from getting near Luckenbill�s net.
Scott turned in a good performance, staying with Marta and denying the Brazilian any touches on the ball over the final 25 minutes. Mitts and center back Sue Weber also played solid, mistake-free soccer.
�I�m just so happy about their performance tonight,� Luckenbill said. �We just did not give up any easy chances tonight. Every time the ball came in to any of their forwards, they had pressure on them right away. We didn�t give Marta or Miyama any space to move.�
The two teams will play each other again - with first place potentially on the line - next Sunday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Two bright stars
In many media circles, Saturday�s match was billed as a showdown of the two best players in the world, Marta and Smith.
Advantage, Smith.
While Marta had a few mesmerizing runs and flicks, it was Smith - who finished runner-up to Marta in Player of the Year voting in 2006 and 2008 - who had more impact in the game, not only with her goal but her hold-up play and efforts to track back defensively.
For Smith, though, the win was most important.
�For me, it�s not Marta v. Kelly, it�s Boston v. L.A.,� she said. �I was pleased to get on the score sheet, but if other players score and we get three points every week, I�m happy.�
Boston Breakers 2, Los Angeles Sol 1
Scoring
B - Kelly Smith (Kelly Schmedes), 2�
B - Kristine Lilly (Stacy Bishop), 55�
LA - Brittany Bock (Aya Miyama), 63�
Lineups
Los Angeles: Karina LeBlanc; Manya Makoski, Martina Franko, Stephanie Cox, Brittany Bock; Camille Abily (Katie Larkin, 74�), Shannon Boxx, Aya Miyama; Aly Wagner, Han Duan, Marta
Boston: Kristin Luckenbill; Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Sue Weber, Heather Mitts; Stacy Bishop, Angela Hucles, Kelly Smith, Kristine Lilly; Christine Latham (Amy Rodriguez, 64�), Kelly Schmedes (Kasey Moore, 75�)
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