Breakers Host Chicago in Critical Showdown

A Win Would Boost Playoff Hopes

By Mark Goodman

July 15, 2009

Who: Boston Breakers vs. Chicago Red Stars
What: WPS Regular Season
Where: Harvard Stadium - Boston, Mass.
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Follow the game live on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SoccerNE.

A win would put them back within a shout of second place and give them control of their playoff destiny.

A loss could see them drop as low as sixth place and needing help to get back in the playoff picture.

Such is the fine line the Boston Breakers are walking these days as they host the Chicago Red Stars tonight at 7 at Harvard Stadium.

Kristine Lilly

Kristine Lilly and the Breakers are in desperate need of three points against Chicago. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

The Breakers (5-6-3, 18 points) appeared to be turning a corner when they won back-to-back games in the span of four days against Chicago (June 21) and Washington (June 24), but have lost two games - both to Sky Blue FC - since then.

The losses see Boston tied for third with Sky Blue, although the New Jersey-based outfit own the tiebreaker, having already clinched the season series. Chicago (4-6-5, 17 points) and the Freedom (4-6-4, 16 points) are also in the mix for one of the league�s four playoff spots, with Los Angeles (11-2-4, 37 points) having already clinched and Saint Louis (7-5-2, 23 points) in firm control of second place.

Breakers midfielder and captain Kristine Lilly said after Tuesday�s practice that ups and downs are the norm in WPS so far. To illustrate that, five teams having spent time in last place so far this season (L.A. and Boston are the only teams to have stayed out of the cellar).

�There�s only one team (the Sol) that hasn�t been doing that�the rest of the group have been up and down like that as well,� Lilly said. �I think it maybe just has to do with the competition - any day a game can go either way. We got six games left and we gotta look at it as a six-game season right now.�

While the Breakers have struggled, the Red Stars come in to Boston on an upswing, having won their last two games - both at home - against Washington (2-1 July 1) and FC Gold Pride (3-1 Sunday). This comes after the club went a combined 0-6-3 in May and June.

The Red Stars were shut out in seven of those nine matches, but have found a spark of late, led by Brazilian forward Cristiane. The 24-year old - who has finished third in the voting for the last two FIFA World Player of the Year awards - scored the equalizer against Washington and then notched the league�s first-ever hat trick against Gold Pride.

U.S. international Lindsay Tarpley (3 goals) also figures prominently into an attack that Breakers defender Nancy Augustyniak-Goffi says can hurt defenses with its pace and passing ability.

�They�re good at getting behind (the defense) and they have a lot of speed,� she said Tuesday. �I think it�s a matter of us staying on our toes and not letting them behind us and always pressuring them on the ball. If you give them time to play that bent ball behind the back line, they�ll play it.�

Boston�s likely starter at right back with Alex Scott away this week with England�s national team, Augustyniak-Goffi said the Breakers also need to prevent Chicago midfielder Carli Lloyd from getting off shots from distance.

The Breakers would also do well to score first. In games that they have, they�re 5-0, while going 0-6-3 in the others. Lilly, who is second on the team with 3 goals (behind Kelly Smith�s 5), said scoring is a challenge she is looking to meet herself.

�I need to find more chances on goal, personally,� Lilly said. �That�s something I�m a little down with in my game. But I�m gonna get in there and try to create chances and hopefully help the team be successful.�

Both teams will be a little shorthanded, as Scott, Smith and Chicago forward Karen Carney are all with England as it plays a pair of friendlies this week to prepare for next month�s European tournament.

Mark Goodman can be reached at newsdesk@soccernewengland.com.