Match Report: Freedom vs Sol

Marta, three time Women's World Player of the Year, struck a left-footed injury time winner. In the background, spectators relax on Freedom Hill, within touching distance of their idols. The intimacy of the WPS is one of its biggest selling points.

Frankly, for a game boasting two of the best attacking players in women's soccer, the LA Sol's 1-0 win over the Washington Freedom was a disappointing match. The non-existent atmosphere was the most discouraging aspect of the affair. On the upside, the technical quality of play was quite good, and $20 bought seats that would have cost four times that at a DC United game.

At least the Freedom establishment know their audience-- the Maryland Soccerplex, where the game was held, is firmly entrenched in suburbia. I've actually played in the stadium before, in a tournament final a few years ago. At Sunday's game the stands were chock full of young girls in soccer jerseys, with unnassuming soccer parents and even grandparents filling out the crowd of slightly more than 5100. It was a beautiful evening and a pleasant family atmosphere, and the players on the pitch were refreshingly civil with one another. Unfortunately, family atmosphere does not equal exciting: the stadium was virtually silent throughout most of the game.

Starting elevens: Freedom (l) and Sol (r).

It didn't help that the game itself was something of a dud. Neither team was keen to throw numbers forward. Admittedly, the Sol have dominated the league this debut season, so the Freedom were probably being careful not to get caught out by the visitors. Both teams played 4-4-2's that often resembled 4-4-1-1's, with superstars Abby Wambach and Marta playing in the hole. Abby, as most American fans will know, is the quintissential target striker, but she was having difficulty getting service so she took to dropping deep, where she made some gorgeous flick-ons. Pairing Wambach up top was Perth native Lisa de Vanna, who was the brightest player in the game. At one point in the second half she ran at the heart of the LA defense, drawing four opposing players in before finally being dispossessed. Other players who caught the eye: Sonia Bompastor, a Luka Modric-like midfielder from Mer, France with a sweet left foot; Becky Sauerbrunn, who made an astonishing acrobatic clearence off the line; the Sol's intelligent right midfielder (Aly Wagner, I think); Freedom sub Allie Long; and, of course, Marta, whose pace constantly unsettled Washington's defense.



I'm glad that the WPS exists. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly disappointed with my experience yesterday. The quality of play wasn't bad, but it simply wasn't very exciting. Nonetheless, feel free to to give it a chance on some Sunday afternoon. Bring a blanket, a picnic basket, reasonable expectations, and maybe a vuvuzuela.

Sonia Bompastor - Abby Wambach