Los Angeles 1, Chicago 1: A Play-by-Play (And Other Miscellany)

T-120 minutes to kickoff: This is the second of three straight home games for the Los Angeles Sol, who defeated St. Louis Athletica.

T-79: There are some low clouds tonight, with a slight drizzle coming in. Out of all the teams that Los Angeles has played at home for the first time, Chicago is the only team remaining. They are the bottom on the WPS Power Rankings this week.

T-74: National Anthem warm-up. The USA Men's National Team is playing tonight at San Jose. No, not the San Jose in California. The San Jose in Costa Rica. Yes, we are facing the Ticos in a FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifier Hexagonal tie. I am calling on us to do the usuals.

T-65: I am watching a rerun of the FA Cup Final that Chelsea won 2-0 over Everton.

T-58: Toto's "Africa" and Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" playing. Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy's looks like Bobby Kimball from Toto. Seriously. He does.

T-56: Chicago is tied for fifth in the standings, the product of a slump that has seen them scoreless for more than five hours game time. They can't score, period. Wouldn't this be a great victory for Chicago? I mean, they are due for something...

T-55: The Sol keepers are going through their preliminaries. The other players and the reeling Red Stars will come down soon.

T-54: I think the song by Toto is in the wrong continent, when I think about it. Unless the rainstorm did come from there. Or is it a foreboding to the men qualifying for 2010? Hmmmm...

T-53: It mystifies the imagination. but "Toto IV" is the BEST album from the band, hands down.

T-52: Don't like what I am hearing from the sound system. Tuning in to the Pietasters' "Out All Night" instead.

T-47: The US Soccer match tracker seems to be down. Focusing on the WPS one instead.

T-45: This is the lineup we have here. Men At Work's "Down Under" is playing. The men are playing south of us. But Australia will be taking on Qatar and if they win/draw and Japan win their game, both of them will qualify ahead of us.

No fair, you two! But I also follow the Roos, and at least it's better than having to go through Uruguay AGAIN. Whew! The match in Doha is scheduled for this Saturday night. Or Saturday morning here in the States, and early Sunday morning in Oz.

LOS ANGELES SOL
Kit: Dark blue tops, shorts and socks
Manager: Abner Rogers
Formation: 4-4-2

23 LeBlanc

14 Cox ---- 11 Bock ----  3 Falk ---- 19 Franko

7 Boxx (C) ---- 20 Abily ---- 22 Makoski ---- 8 Miyama

9 Han Duan ---- 10 Marta

CHICAGO RED STARS
Kit: White tops, light blue shorts, white socks
Manager: Emma Hayes
Formation: 4-4-2

1 Jonsson

2 Dalmy ---- 13 Spilger ---- 24 Oakes ---- 18 Ostberg (C)

6 Klein ---- 12 Igwe ---- 5 Tarpley ---- 14 Carney

11 Cristiane ---- 8 Rapinoe


T-43: It's 80's Night/Family Night here at the HDC.

T-38: for the Chicago Red Stars, look for Cristiane to be the catalyst for the Women of the Windy City, who are trying to get some fresh air back into their sails this season.

The match on Saturday between Australia in Qatar is 7:00PM locally, or 4:00PM in the UK, or 9:00 AM on the West Coast.

T-30: There is a comparison in the motivation between both teams. The Red Stars seem unmotivated by the moment, while the Sol players are having fun...and we're not going to be kicking off for about a half-hour!

Can you say...foreboding?

T-29: "Kokomo" by the Beach Boys is playing. A little prayer to those who got killed off the coast of Brazil. Had to show the men at San Jose. I'll be watching this and the game here.

T-19: No sooner had I got my concessions than Costa Rica getting an early 1-0 lead. Both teams are back in the dressing room. Ironically, San Jose, Costa Rica and San Jose, California are sister cities.

No way!

But it is true.

T-16: Rickrolled! "Never Gonna Give You Up" playing. Definitely foreboding of the ominous kind.

T-14: Hello~~~~~ Sunny. Doesn't look to be sunny today, unless you count floodlights. Second-minute goal by Alvaro Saborio of FC Sion.

T-12: I wonder if the Pali Blues are going to be the W-League affiliate of the Sol, if they aren't already. Chicago already have their Red Eleven, the Freedom's reserves play in the W-League, and Boston Aztec of WPSL are affiliated with the Breakers.

T-11: This can't be good. 2-0 Costa Rica. My god, are these guys on our side even MOTIVATED tonight? Horrible start for the men. They are getting Ticorolled.

T-8: Debarge's "Rhythm of the Night" is playing. The men are out of their rhythm tonight. Hopefully the Sol aren't either. According to Globalscore, Costa Rica are a 2.58 favorite. But as it is, this is not a good start for the USA. Cue the scrutiny.

T-6: The drum people are ready. Celso Borges of Fredrikstad FK of Norway scored the second goal for the Ticos. Last season, that club finished second in the Tippe Ligaen.

T-5: The match official today is Felisha Mariscal. Linesman are Mike Kampmeinert and Marlene Duffy. Daniel Radford, who hails from my hometown of Long Beach, is our fourth official.

T-3: Our national anthem is sung by Noella Goodwin, the winner of the Sol National Anthem Contest. Her voice gave out near the end, but she fought back to finish the job. Or maybe the sound system went dead. Yes. That may be it... ^^;

I am just shaking my head in disbelief.

T-1: Sol are 12 clear of the Red Stars...Will it be 15 or 9?

Kickoff: 7:37 PM

1' - Here we go. I'll check in on the match, though it looks like with the way things are going, Costa Rica will be at the top of the group. I learned something...the USA weren't good at soccer, failing to qualify.

Even in 1982, Canada could defeat the United States, something that nowadays even the ladies can't do.

Chicago now setting something up early. They have possession early.

2' - Great save from Karin on LeBlanc. No foul. Clean play.

3' - Megan Rapinoe setting it up for Cristiane. Doesn't amount to much. It will be a battle between two accomplished players for As Canarinhas (The Yellow Canaries), the nickname for the Brazilian women's national team.

4' - Han Duan offsides.

5' - Wide shot by Lindsay Tarpley. That was dangerous.

6' - First corner of the day for Los Angeles.

7' - Good save by Caroline Jonnson, although it was off a crossbar deflection.

7' - Offensively, Chicago is keeping the Sol at bay. Captain Frida Ostberg is asking her ladies to play with a sense of urgency, a sense of focus, not unlike a certain US President we all know...

8' - Chicago is winning the possession war. LeBlanc, a cool and calculated keeper with seven shutouts in eight games, sets things in order.

9' - Sol Thunderstix banging.

10' - Another save for LeBlanc. She is getting work early.

11' - Han is snuffed out by Cristiane. Her full name is Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva, whose former club was Corinthians. Another save for Karina.

12' - That was a dangerous possession, and Jonsson was keen to save that ball.

13' - Good clearance by the Sol for a Red Stars corner. LeBlanc was going to be beat.

14' - Not a good corner, but Marta could have done better on that clearance, too.

15' - Karen Carney looks a bit shaken up.

16' - Back to a possession game again.

17' - Someone is trying in vain to solve a Rubik's cube.

19' - Good tackle by Brittany Klein, forcing the free kick.

20' - Here is Aya Miyama, and Manya Makoski on that attack should have done better.

22' - As I am listening to a special on Tim Howard, Klein sent one in the direction of LeBlanc. She is getting her saves tonight.

23' - And Jonsson was walking the tightrope, but she makes that one. Marian Dalmy's shot was well off the mark.

24' - Oh man! Jonsson was beaten, but the defensive line of the Chicago Red Stars stopped that phase from becoming something big.

25' - And that shot by Abily surely could have been done better. Camille would want that one back in a heartbeat.

27' - Both teams already escaped major bullets this half.

29' - Uh oh...Chicago is upping the ante.

30' - That was a rough tackle by Chicago. But the Sol could not capitalize.

31' - Shot by Marta goes wide, but Jonsson gets a piece of that one. Corner.

32' - And that set piece was cleared. 12 and 24th minute we saw opportunities wasted. Who's going to be getting shafted in the 36th, if the pattern holds?

33' - Long passing now taking a hit for LA. The cacophony of drums and noisemakers now doing their part.

34' - Two angles and the Match Tracker...brilliant.

35' - Here's the Sol on the attack, with the Solpporters watching. Skies clearing a bit. Not a drop of rain.

36' - Divine intervention, that.
37' - Sunny T. Shark getting the crowd to bang those Thunderstix. And the Sol was winning the possession battle.

38' - And again, the long passing is not working for LA. Here come the Red Stars...with the counterattack.

39' - Good dispossession by Stephanie Cox.

40' - That attempt by Han Duan went all for naught. She's fine, though.

41' - Something tells me that it's going to be a rout down there. Shake things up, Bob Bradley. This is going nowhere fast for you lot.

42' - Goal kick for Jonsson. Cristiane's shot was the same as her initial volley in the half...wide right with wider trajectory.

43' - Great shot by Miyama. Jonsson have to save that one. Corner for LA.

44' - Cleared again by Chicago.

45' - On pace for a scoreless first half. And that's what we'll get.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Sol 0

Chicago Red Stars 0

The scoring drought for Chicago continues, while Los Angeles will be ruing a number of blown chances themselves.

2ND HALF START - 8:40 PM

46' - It is officially a rout for Costa Rica. 3-0 over the USA in the 69th. Bob Bradley, shake it up next game. Like the Cars' song. Pablo Herrera of CD Alajualense scores for the Ticos.

Sol Patrol giving out T-shirts. Can't these guys turn down the Cyndi Lauper already?

47' - Thank you. And these guys didn't play any Madonna, either.

48' - Long throw-in looked to be threatening, but it will go out for a goal kick. Yes, sound those horns. Hope you visitors in San Jose are hearing that. That sure stunk.

49' - I am putting even money on the Rubik's Cube lady NOT getting it done.

50' - Miyama asking the defense to reset. Bad pass down the flank for a Red Star throw in.

51' - Solid interception by Chicago's Marian Dalmy, but Stephanie Cox can also intercept as well.

52' - Good save by LeBlanc.

53' - Long shot from captain Shannon Boxx saved by Jonsson. Captain Shannon wants a second.

54' - Set piece for the Red Stars. High shot. Goal kick. This is turning to be a bad night for finishing. Haven't seen the old guys clamor for Artistry make up this time around.

55' - That was gonna be trouble. Abily wanted another one for her campaign. Great defending by Chicago.

56' - The Sol are pressing the issue right now.

57' - Captain Shannon wanted that one back.

58' - That was a rough challenge. It looked as if Natalie Spilger wrestled one of the Sol players to the ground. No card, too. Sympathy for Chicago from Mariscal?

59' - Mariscal is a tough official. Chicago's trying to physically gain control of this match, and she will not call those fouls.

61' - Red Stars are gaining possession time. Good containment.

62' - And that was bad passing from Martina Franko.

63' - Suicide defending for LA, but LeBlanc scoops it up. Here comes Miyama, to Han Duan. A shot from Marta misses the top left corner, but it will be a corner for LA off the deflection by the Red Stars.

64' - That was another blown opportunity for the home side to break the deadlock, and they have no one but themselves to blame.

65' - Chicago now on the attack. Wide shot from Lindsay Tarpley.

66' - Boxx was too conservative on that feed. Great defending from Franko.

67' - Heh. And that ball went in Abner Rogers' direction, who throws it back in.

68' - Nice try with the bicycle kick for Cristiane, but LeBlanc saves that. She has been the workhorse this game. If she ends up with the Woman of the Match honors, it will not surprise me.

69' - That cross from Miyama was going to be taken by Jonsson. Too high a shot from the Red Stars.

70' - Corner for Sol after a scramble in the goal.

71' - Los Angeles Sol substitution.
IN 18 Katie Larkin
OUT 9 Han Duan

72' - Saves, saves, and more saves. This is a keeper clinic.

73' - Offsides Chicago, and Cristiane can't believe that.

73' - Passing has just been off tonight for Los Angeles.

74' - Jonsson had to grab that one, because Larkin was waiting.

75' - Chicago Red Stars substitution.
IN 9 Danesha Adams
OUT 5 Lindsay Tarpley

76' - Final score, 3-1 USA. Landon Donovan got one back on a 90th minute penalty, but the damage had already been done.

77' - Another corner for LA. What can they make of this?

77' - Not much. It's cleared by Chicago. Now the Red Stars are on the attack. Dangerous penalty.

78' - Well, the Rubik's cube girl got it done. Enjoy the rest of your home games, Jessica. The question is: did she get help? And is that allowed in the rules? Hmmmm...controversies exist because people believe in it.

Just like gods in religion and undead dictators in the totalitarian armpits of the world.

79' - Some aggressive tackling by the Red Stars' Marian Dalmy, taking hold of that sense of urgency. And no fouls and no cards.

80' - Augh. The bad passing again.

81' - Leblanc is there. Chicago now going on the offensive, upping the pace. Here we go. Can the Sol clear this throw-in?

82' - Uh-oh...good marking on Marta, she could not get enough time to make a good shot past Jonsson. Solid defending by the Red Star back line.

83' - High shot from Jill Oakes, just went over the crossbar.

84' - If Chicago is unable to score a goal right here, they could be looking at over 400 minutes without a goal. Actually, they already are. Ouch.

85' - Los Angeles Sol substitution.
IN 6 McCall Zerboni
OUT 11 Brittany Bock

86' - Please. That shot from the Sol didn't stand a chance.

86' - Chicago Red Stars substitution
IN 3 Ella Masar
OUT 8 Megan Rapinoe

87' - Well, barring last-minute heroics, we're not see any goals tonight, but the fans got a show. Some people are trying to do the Mexican Wave.

87' - Chicago's counter-attack averted, but here they come again.

88' - Marta tried to get that one away.

88' - GOAL! Chicago Red Stars #11 Cristiane Assist: #3 Ella Masar
And the drought is OVER for Chicago! They get the goal they needed, and Cristiane opens her account with a shot that escapes LeBlanc. Some acrobatics as well.

I would think that in the NCAA that would be a yellow, but I think celebration penalties are garbage, and should go to hell from whence they came. But what a goal for Emma Hayes' club.

89' - Corner for LA. They are on the verge of suffering their first defeat at home. And that is also the first given up in 538 match minutes. Superlatives.

90' - GOAL! Los Angeles Sol 20 Camille Abily

But the Sol tie it. Unbelievable! Badly saved by Jonsson and it's tied. Abily is mobbed by her teammates like Carlos Ruiz at the Rose Bowl in MLS Cup 2001 against New England, playing with the Galaxy.

Why has Olympique Lyonnais been successful with No. 20? This is your example. It goes to show you that can't spell reliability without Abily. There's one for the signs.

90 + 1' - And an attempt by Chicago just missed the top right corner. And we are seeing heroics at the Toolbox.

90 + 2' - Well, the Red Stars will go down as the first team to score on the Sol's home turf, but ohhhh man, Abily was clutch. That is her fourth of the campaign.

90 + 2' - Chicago Red Stars
IN 23 Nikki Krzysik
OUT 9 Danesha Adams
Adams is down with an injury, but what a valiant fight.

92' - And that's a wrap! Heartbreak for Chicago, sheer relief for Los Angeles.

FINAL

Los Angeles Sol 1
(Abily 90')

Chicago Red Stars 1
(Cristiane 88')

Last-minute heroics. The Red Stars end the drought, but the Sol have yet to lose at home.