Sure, Marta’s a three-time world football player of the year, and arguably one of the best footballers on the planet, but England’s Kelly Smith’s the real deal. Smith proved why she was named the first Women’s Professional Soccer Player of the Month when she scored the fastest goal of the year in the WPS. Her line-drive strike past the outstretched arms of a diving Sol keeper Karina LeBlanc came in the second minute and sparked the Breakers, who became the first team to beat and to score on Los Angeles this season. Kristine Lilly added a goal in the 55th minute on a great set-up from defender Stacy Bishop to give the Breakers a 2-1 win and push them past Chicago and into the second place. They improved to 3-2-0.
The play of Boston’s Alex Scott, Heather Mitts, Sue Weber, and Amy LePeilbet in the back, and keeper Kristin Luckenbill, kept a dangerous attack led by Marta, Han Duan, and Aya Miyama, at bay.
“This is probably the best team in my career defensively where we’re just so sound and solid,” said Smith, who now leads the WPS with four goals. “They’re all very good on the ball, techinically gifted, and can understand the game.”
A speedy Marta, who at times made runs in which her speed overtook her teammates, was contained by the great play of the Boston back line.
“There weren’t really a lot of chances incredibly close to our goal, and thats’ a tribute to the back four and Luckenbill,” Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco said.
“Our back four, I’m just so happy about their performance tonight,” said Luckenbill, who came up with two big saves in the final 15 minutes of the game, both off the foot of Marta. “They just did not give up any easy chances. Every time the ball came into any of their forwards, they had pressure on them rigt away. We didn’t give Marta any space to move. I thought our defenders did a fantastic job getting in the right position in one-0n-one defending, not to allow them to play any easy balls.”
Smith’s goal came before many of the 8,031 fans in attendance took their seats. On a bang-bang play in front of LeBlanc, Smith capitalized on a deflection from a shot by Boston forward Kelly Schemedes. Smith struck a hard ball in mid-air, planting into the left corner to give Boston a 1-0 lead.
Lilly’s goal was a combination of sloppy defense by Manya Makoski and a great setup from Bishop, who sent a ball to Lilly, who came crusing down the left side. Makoski failed to stop the pass, which skirted past her right foot. Lilly picked up the pass and sailed into the box before she hit it into the far corner to make it a 2-0 game.
The Sol (2-0-2) scored in the 63rd minute when Brittany Bock got credit for a goal off a pass from Miyama. The ball richocheted off Bock’s arm and into the net. But Boston held on, improving to 2-0 at home.
“It was a good win tonite and a good team effort,” Lilly said. “It’s all about getting points, as many as you can. We played LA here and then we play them at (their) home, so it was great opportunity to steal some points from a first-place team.’
The Breakers play the Sol in Los Angeles, Sunday May, 10, at the Home Depot Center.
Photo Credit: David Silverman
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