The Atlanta Beat in their third game against the Philadelphia Independence looked to start moving up the league standings and climb out of the cellar. After picking up their first win of the season the Beat got back starters Hope Solo and Kia McNeill who were at the World Cup as part of Team Exchange which is a partnership for Grassroot Soccer in Soweto, South Africa and The Grassroot Project in Washington, D.C. Eniola Aluko also returned after national team duty in which England took on Spain in a qualifier for Women’s World Cup 2011. Ramona Bachmann (Switzerland) and Johanna Rasmussen (Denmark) were still unavailable due to national duty. Both Bachmann & Rasmussen scored 2 goals in their respective matches earlier in the week helping their teams to victories.
Despite adding six Athletica players earlier this month the team is playing with better cohesion then ever. There is a confidence in their play and each other that is evident in their play on and off the ball.
At the start of the game Zerboni was taking on anyone in her path. She had three nutmegs in the first 10 minutes and it was her determination the led to the first goal on the night. After dispossessing the Philly defender she crossed it in to Mami Yamaguchi who turned it and scored at the 14th minute.
The Beat managed possession and dictated the pace for the first 30 minutes before the Independence was able to put anything together but they made the most of their first opportunity and scored on the 36th minute. Possession was back and forth for the remainder of the half which ended all square 1-1 at the half.
Whatever energy and mentality the Beat started the half with was quickly changed when the Independance sent a ball in across the goalmouth that Stacy Bishop, of the Beat, put into her own goal. At this point in WPS games the Beat have scored 4 goals at KSU Stadium, 2 against their opponents and 2 against themselves. Not a good ratio.
From that point on play went back and forth with both team getting chances. Following the lead of the US Men’s National Team, the Beat added a stoppage time goal to pull even and take a well earned point. It was from a set piece that Tina Ellertson headed home the equalizer for her second goal as an Atlanta Beat player.
Attendance – 2632
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