Los Angeles-FC Gold Pride: A Play-by-Play (And Other Miscellany)

T-120 to kickoff: We have had plenty of action this week in WPS, with midweek and weekend matches galore. Sky Blue FC's resurgence, combined with St. Louis Athletica's wheels falling off, define a busy week.

And it's only going to get busier. Especially for the Los Angeles Sol. They will be playing three matches in seven days. This is the first of those three: a home match here at the Home Depot Center against FC Gold Pride, who now have the services of assistant coach Sissi on the pitch.

T-110: Greer Barnes has been waved. And with Camille Abily heading off with the national team later this season, Abner Rogers will summon the services of Laura Del Rio. Del Rio's current club is W-League powerhouse FC Indiana Lionesses. This Lioness won't be falling in with the Lionesses of the Bay, though. Del Rio will be playing for the Sol. Everybody here is looking forward to what she will offer to the team.

T-63: Passed by a bunch of media bigshots in the press box, chatting and eating lunch. Oh no, the TV channels have gone static. And thus, the switch to digital television was complete. Fix this, you guys here at the HDC!

T-62: Earlier today we had a 5K/10K run/walk. So some of the fans have had a little bit of a workout today. Today we also salute the brave women who made up the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup team from the USA. Mia Hamm and the gang make their glorious return. Of course, FC Gold Pride's Brandi Chastain is here to take park in the plaudits.

T-60: The USA, after pratfalls against Italy and Brazil, killed Egypt 3-0, as expected. Charlie Davies in the 21st, Michael Bradley in the 63rd and Clint Dempsey sealed the deal in the 71st. And this victory sends them to the semis of the Confederations Cup! Woo-hoo!

T-55: Earlier today I wrote an article on Toronto FC's Voyageurs Cup campaign, and since this has been a largely untouched campaign, I recommend that you take a look at that.

T-51: It's also Father's Day. So I gave my dad some cash to spend.

T-50: But seriously, let's see how the USA does against Spain. FC Gold Pride's players are on the pitch for warmups. The Sol will take the pitch soon after.

T-39: Got a user on BigSoccer who sent me a negrep (thumbs-down) on a post referring the Egyptian national team as "The Pharaohs," which IS their actual team name. He says, "Pharoah's could be seen as "negative" and even racist. Keep it clean."

Hold on here, young man. That comment WAS clean, and the user clearly did not look up his Wikipedia before he chose to give me the negrep. That's the thing that ticks me off: users on forums who thumb it down frivolously. I despise those types of users, because in years gone by, I tried that too and I got flak for it.

T-35: All vendettas aside, let's give you a quick rundown of the situation for both teams. The Los Angeles Sol are nine points up on the Washington Freedom, and FC Gold Pride are sixth on the table. Right now, Boston is leading Chicago 1-0 in the 74th minute. A win by the Breakers moves them up.

T-22: Lineups.

LOS ANGELES SOL
Colors: White tops, shorts, socks
Manager: Abner Rogers
Formation: 4-4-2

23 LeBlanc

22 Makoski ---- 3 Falk ---- 19 Franko ---- 14 Cox

4 Wagner ---- 7 Boxx (C) ---- 20 Abily ---- 8 Miyama

11 Bock ---- 10 Marta

Substitutes:
00 Cameron
1 Henderson
2 Sanchez
6 Zerboni
9 Han Duan
12 Sari
13 Schnugg
17 Bogus
18 Larkin
21 Frisk

FC GOLD PRIDE
Colors: Gold tops, black shorts, black socks
Manager: Albertin Montoya
Formation: 4-3-3

1 Barnhart

7 Robinson ---- 19 Dew ---- 4 Buehler ---- 13 Grazcyk

10 Osborne (C) ---- 5 DiMartino ---- 31 Formiga

30 Arakawa ---- 12 Sinclair ---- 15 Milbrett

Substitutes:
18 Whitworth
3 Abegg
8 Weimer
20 Erika
21 Adriane

Our match referee today is Daniel Fitzgerald, our linesmen are Marlene Duffy and Maurizio Laudani, and our fourth official today is Adam Brugman.

T-20: Both teams head back to the change rooms.

T-13: Of course, we have to thank Brazil for bailing the USA men out at the Confed, so a nice obrigado to you, O Selecao. Brazil shut out Italy 3-0.

T-2: National anthem by Lorelei Sinco.

With FC Gold Pride yet to score a victory against the Sol, could this be the day that they prevail?

Interesting nickname I will now give Eriko Arakawa: "The Fro." That afro that characterizes the No. 30 is a nice selling point.

KICKOFF: 3:07PM

1' - Here we go. Will Washington cut in to the gap, or will they just be keeping pace? The sound effect people will be busy today.

2' - Gold Pride resets, looking for someone on the flank. The Sol midfielders are not going to let the Pride have it easy in their half.

3' - That pass from Cox to Miyama went nowhere. Here come the Pride. And the Sol drummers are active. Corner for the Lionesses of the Bay. They are coming out fast.

4' - Milbrett to take. She takes it short. And that was squandered.

5' - Back to the ball movement battle. Karina LeBlanc, who leads the league with eight clean sheets, sets up trouble for the Pride.

And that was a huge bullet dodged by Albertin Montoya's club. Here's the counterattack, and what a save by the Canadian netminder and Rutgers assistant coach.

6' - Corner for the Sol. The Lionesses park the bus, and clear it out.

7' - This is a great reaction by Los Angeles after FC Gold Pride's warning shot.

8' - Maurizio Laudani could call that offsides with Braille. Too easy.

9' - Bad throw in. Nicole Barnhart resets. Oddly enough Nutrilite is the sponsor of the Canadian Championship.

10' - Marta and Formiga in a battle of the Samba Queens before the Sol go on their couter-attack.

11' - Leigh Ann Robinson, with some good marking on Marta.

12' - Barnhart intercepts the cross from Aya Miyama.

13' - FC Gold Pride pressures inside the box, but LA's defense clears the ball away. Hey, if you can park the bus, so can we. That's what she said.

14' - Long passes towards Marta have not been connecting early on this match.

15' - Rough tackle on Brittany Bock. Miyama takes the free kick. Cleared, and the Fro sets up the Gold Pride counter.

16' - Captain Shannon Boxx resets for the Sol. A dangerous cross attempt by Marta results in a corner. Let's see what Aya does this time.

17' - GOAL!! #20 Camille Abily
It looked to be punched away, but not cleared well by Barnhart. And guess who is there...Camille!
Los Angeles 1 - 0 FC Gold Pride

19' - LeBlanc and Miyama reset.

21' - A shot by Marta safely in the hands of Barnhart.

22' - Montoya will be asking a lot out of his Gold Pride team now.

23' - Sol are winning the possession battle so far. Here comes Marta...

24'- GOAL!!! #10 Marta
And there is Marta with the second goal of the day off the breakaway. Number five of the campaign for No. 10.
Los Angeles 2 - 0 FC Gold Pride

25'- Have mercy, Miss Percy; we're only 25 minutes into the match and things are already looking bleak for FC Gold Pride.

27' - Oh, and Formiga was looking to pull one back and make this a game. Corner for Gold Pride. Too high. It's a goal kick.

29' - And Abner Rogers watches on like a supporter rather than a manager. Deservedly so.

30' - The Sol seem to be content of going on the defense the rest of the half. Karine LeBlanc with some great defending. Dion't make a good save, but Manya Makoski, the unsung heroine in one of my pieces, buys her time to scoop up the rebound. Sol-id team defending.

31' - No pun intended either.

32' - Sunny T. Shark summoning the Sol-pporters. Seemed to be on sides for Miyama, but Laudani raises the flag. Back line for FC Gold Pride holds.

33' - Ronald McDonald's rotating head in the McDonald's McFlurry Minutes is creeping me out. I'm getting McRolled here...agggghhhhh!

35' - And Formiga is hurt. But she is able to get up. Her ankle seems to have gone from under her.

37' - Here come the Sol. Cleared away after Aya Miyama's opportunity got tackled.

38' - Battle in the trenches between both teams, and a shot by Makoski is deflected.

39' - Corner for Miyama, and another one...LA has been hogging up the corners today.

40' - LeBlanc clears another FC Gold Pride chance. And the Lionesses of the Bay are coming out to get a piece of Marta right now.

41' - Gold Pride resets. LeBlanc had to go off her line to clear that one.

42' - A shot by Formiga goes wide of the mark. Here come the Sol.

43' - And another bad pass for LA. You can forgive this club for losing a little of their fluid play this half, after all, they ARE up 2-0. Free kick, Miyama to take.

44' - And the header is saved by Barnhart.

45' - I do not like a number of the pass by the midfielders to the forwards on the Sol side. Too long, too strong, and too easy to get for Barnhart.

They originally credited the first goal to Franko, but now they credit it to Abily.

Two minutes of stoppage time to be added.

45' + 1' - Best chance of the half for FC Gold Pride cleared by Makoski.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Sol 2
17' Abily, 24' Marta

FC Gold Pride 0

Message to Sol: No spinning Ronald McDonald heads, please! Too much McRolling!

SECOND HALF START: 4:13 PM

46' - What adjustments will be in order for Gold Pride, and what will Abner Rogers have in store for the Los Angeles Sol to con-Sol-idate? Let's find out. A little delay to accommodate the Fox Soccer Channel. 10 second delay.

Dangerous possession inside, and no spot-pointing. Big bullet dodged.

47' - Abily marked by Carrie Dew. FC Gold Pride need to neutralize the offensive onslaught this half to get back in it. They can't rely on Barnhart alone to bail them out. The Pride will need to break its own shackles.

49' - Ubh oh...Marta on the onslaught, but now FC Gold Pride is showing some defensive savvy. Where has THIS been in the first? Well, it's been there, but certainly not in this fashion.

50' - Pride now on the counter. The Sol are there. And here they come.

52' - It's a ball movement battle. FC Gold Pride's urgency switch is on.

53' - Sol resets. And these long passes have been nothing but groaners, plain and simple.

55' - Los Angeles seems to be content to sit on the ball and rest for the next couple of matches.

56' - Substitution FC Gold Pride
IN 21 Adriane
OUT 30 Eriko Arakawa

57' - Great save by Barnhart off the cross from Marta to Miyama. Marta shook past Dew to get that chance ready. It's a corner. Wasted.

58' - FC Gold Pride have been walking the tightrope today.

59' - The father of Karina LeBlanc is recognized as well. I stand with the dads. I, however, am like Turkish singer Hadise: I refuse to discuss my personal life with anyone.

61' - Good defense by Gold Pride.

62' - Foul on Bock, and a free kick for FC Gold Pride that is snuffed out.

64' - Montoya asks her ladies to go forward into the LA half. The Sol drummers resonate throughout the stands.

65' - Looks like Han Duan is ready to enter the game.

66' - Substitution FC Gold Pride
IN 3 Marisa Abegg
OUT 7 Leight Ann Robinson

Substitution Los Angeles Sol
IN 9 Han Duan
OUT 11 Brittany Bock

68' - Long pass looking for Christine Sinclair, but to no avail.

69' - Those horns are blaring as the Marta bobbleheads are dished out. They say supplies are limited

70' - Two great saves by Barnhart. And it's a corner. Miyama has been snakebit today.

71' - Nicole Barnhart is having a great 2nd half, snatching that chance by Han Duan. Not a great game, but a great second half. Tiffany Milbrett needs to stretch those legs a bit; she is cramping up.

72' - That FC Gold Pride line was waiting for the Sol throw in. Los Angeles resets.

73' - Formiga clears another Sol cross.

74' - Handball by Carrie Dew, and a chance inside the box for Los Angeles falls apart. Boy, the Pride have been having a defensive feast, and Fitzgerald is hesitant to dish out spot-pointings and card-issuings alike.

76' - Substitution Los Angeles Sol
IN 18 Katie Larkin
OUT 4 Aly Wagner

77' - Oooh, that shot by Erika just missed. And here come the Sol. And there goes the wasted chance.

79' - Boy, both sides have been terrible at finishing today, haven't they? Difficult to watch, no matter which side you are rooting for. Of course, if you are a Sol fan, it's a little less difficult when your club has a 2-0 lead.

Los Angeles clears the corner away. FC Gold Pride put the pressure on; they need something to get back in the match. Anything.

85' - The Sol are fencing in the Lionesses of the Bay, sapping the will of this team with every tackle and possession battle won.

85' - Substitution FC Gold Pride.
IN 8 Tiffany Weimer
OUT 5 Tina DiMartino

87' - I fancy the Sol are fine sitting on this lead. A leaping grab for Karina LeBlanc.

88' - Lazy volley goes towards Marta's Maniacs in the Amway Corner, Section 119.

89' - And another save for LeBlanc. Han Duan wants in on the party, but it probably won't look like it today.

Corner for the Sol after a chance by Han went astray. free kick. All right, Miyama has tied her hair back. I was wrong about Miyama NOT tying it back.

Guilty as charged.

90' - Two minutes of stoppage time. Should go rather quickly.

90' + 2' - That's it. Shutout number nine for Karina. Just another day at the office for Abner Rogers's club.

FINAL

LOS ANGELES SOL 2
17' Abily
24' Marta

FC GOLD PRIDE 0