The Atlanta Beat started the season like most expansion teams do, by losing.  But after an infusion of new players from the now defunct St. Louis Athletica the Atlanta Beat have started to turn things around.  Prior to the All-Star break the Beat had gone 1-5-3 to earn 6 points through 9 games.  [...]]]>

The Atlanta Beat started the season like most expansion teams do, by losing.  But after an infusion of new players from the now defunct St. Louis Athletica the Atlanta Beat have started to turn things around.  Prior to the All-Star break the Beat had gone 1-5-3 to earn 6 points through 9 games.  Since the All-Star break the team has gone 3-2-1 to take their total points earned to 16.  With 9 games left the Atlanta Beat has as good of a shot at making the playoffs as any team does.

In their previous game the Beat netted 3 goals against the Washington Freedom which is the most they’ve tallied in one game this season.  They did it without their primary forwards Aluko & Bachmann.  They will have to use the confidence gained from that match if they are going to compete with the FC Gold Pride who holds the best record in Women’s Professional Soccer.

Coach O’Sullivan could have come out with a defensive minded setup but opted to go with a three-four-three putting Aluko, Bachmann, and Ocampo all in at forward and have 2 defensive midfielders that could track back but also get into the offense when opportunities allowed.  Early on it seemed to work as FC Gold Pride couldn’t get their game going and Atlanta had the better of the chances.  In two different instances Aluko had the ball in the 18 yard box but came up wanting on both plays.  Both teams had their opportunities but with Hope Solo making some big plays the score at the half was nil-nil.

FC Gold Pride created chances but with Marta having a personal escort around the field she was unable to make an impact on the game.  Kia McNeill neutralized the reigning FIFA Women’s Player of the Year for a vast majority of the game.  Hope Solo and her goal post took care of everyone else.  It was a shutout performance that earned her the WPS Player of the Week award.  Solo was well deserving as she made several incredible saves in route to the scoreless draw and helped the team earn another point on their journey to secure a playoff spot.

The Atlanta Beat are now tied for 6th with the Washington Freedom at 17 points.  With a win this Wednesday the Beat would be tied for 4th, the final post-season slot, and have a game in hand.

Atlanta travels to Boston to take on the Breakers and keep their undefeated streak going.  They’ll then turn around and head back home for a game 3 days later against the defending WPS champions, Sky Blue FC, at 7Pm at KSU Soccer Stadium.

Do you think Atlanta will be able to make the push and earn a playoff spot?  Who, or what, do you think has made the biggest impact in turning this team around?

Final Thoughts  – Atlanta continues to struggle to get goals. Two goals from six games. The league has next weekend off and hopefully Coach O’Sullivan can keep the team together and spirits up.  The play seems to be improving but the goals just aren’t there. Hopefully we’ll get a status for Zerboni but [...]]]>  

Final Thoughts  – Atlanta continues to struggle to get goals. Two goals from six games. The league has next weekend off and hopefully Coach O’Sullivan can keep the team together and spirits up.  The play seems to be improving but the goals just aren’t there. Hopefully we’ll get a status for Zerboni but she was taken to the hospital after a colision of heads for precautionary measures.

Full Time – Atlanta 0 – Washinton Freedom 2 

90 min – 2 minutes to be added. Robinson with the shot but wide right.

87 min – Chants of “Let’s go Beat! Let’s go Beat!” echo through the stadium.  The fans haven’t given up and neither has the team.

86 min – Set piece see’s Atlanta put it just wide again.

78 min -GK  Maron receives a pass back and dribbles off to the side prior to knocking it out. Doesn’t get a good clearance and almost pays dearly as Washington knocks it just over the goal.

74 min – Atlanta continues to get chances but needs to do something to finish a few off it they want any points from this one.

68 min -  Official attendance announced at 3,112 on an overcast Sunday night. No rain yet, there should have been more here.

67 min – After waiving off an offsides call the ref gives Washington a corner that’s knocked out.

63 min - GOAL!! 2 -0 Washington Wambach with a goal.  Doesn’t let her broken nose slow her down. Heads down

60 min – corner for Washington, pass headed to Maron.

56 min – Mundy earns another corner. Rassmussen plays it in but the keeper intercepts.

54 min – Foul on Washington. The kick is in the box but Atlanta is call offsides.

54 min – Washington makes substitition for Gilbeau brings in Goebel.

53 min – Atlanta with a corner but nobody in the box able to do anything with it.

49 min – Foul by Thompson outside the box. Bompastor takes the kick which is headed out by Kerr.

47 min – Thompson with the best chance of the night misses wide right.

46 min – Second half underway.

Halftime – The team doesn’t seem to be connecting as well as last week.  Not sure how much is due to the absence of Mami Yamaguchi who is on national team duty at Asia World Cup Qualifiers.

Halftime – Washington lead 1-0 as the game has been back and forth but the story of the season is the Beat unable to make the most of their opportunities.

45+ min – 3 minutes of extra time added.

45min – Bachmann is back on the field and almost scores.

41 min – Rassmussen takes the shot and hits the side netting.

39 min – Bompastor draws a foul outside of the box. Bachmann off the field getting medical attention.  Larkin clears the ball.

35 min – Bachmann with a shot from 25 feet out.

33 min – Kerr with another shot. Wide right. Washington taking their time and slowing the pace with the early lead.

30 min – Mundy earns another corner. McLeod punches it out.

28 min – Corner Atlanta. Rasmussen cross but nobody at the backdoor.

28 min – Goal Washington 1 -0

25 min - Mundy crosses and gets a corner. Rasmussen with a corner kick and a low driven shot just outside the post.

24 min – Bompastor back on the field and seems to be okay.

22 min – Washington making the most of their chances. Maron & Wambach collide outside of the box.

12 min – Kerr with the shot

5 min – Sophia Mundy on for Zerboni

5 min – Bompastor & Zerboni knocked heads and a stretcher is out for both players.

2 min – Early chance for Bachmann but slid and lost control.

The starting lineups have been announced and kick-off is just moments away.  I’ll be posting updates during the game but you’ll need to refresh to get updates.

Atlanta Starting Lineup: Maron, Zerboni, Bishop, Larkin, McNeill, Robinson, Bachmann, Kerr, Rasmussen, Cinalli, Thompson

ATL Bench: Whitworth, Ocampo, Hamm, Sesselmann, Mattern, Nolin, Lofton, Mundy

Washington Starting Lineup: McLeod, Whitehill, Marshall, Moros, Sauerbrunn, Gilbeau, Bompastor, Long, Huffman, Mykjaland, Wambach

Washington Bench: McCray, Goebel, Welsh, Singer, Abegg