Breakers-Red Stars: Lilly, A-Rod Lead Breakers to 2-0 Win at Chicago

Todd CivinJun 21, 2009

Amy Rodriguez scored her first goal of the season, while Kristine Lilly added a goal and an assist as the Boston Breakers defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 2-0, in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

The win moves the Breakers (4-4-3, 15 points) into sole possession of third place in the WPS Standings, pending the result of tonight’s Los Angeles–FC Gold Pride match. Boston came into the day in a three-way tie for fourth with the Pride and idle Sky Blue FC. T

he Red Stars (2-5-5, 11 points) remain winless since a 4-0 win over Boston back on Apr. 25 and are in last place, but just three points back of the fourth and final playoff position.

“I think it was a gutty performance,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “It was difficult to play in this weather and I thought it was really important to score first because chasing the game in this weather is not easy. Chicago probably deserved more, but we’ve been on that side of the games as well. So we’re delighted with the win and we went out with the right mentality.”

Rodriguez put Boston in front in the 22nd minute. Lilly sent a through ball from the left side ahead to Rodriguez, who ran into the box and beat the oncoming Chicago goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson to the lower left side of goal. It was the first goal of the season for the 2009 WPS Draft’s No. 1 pick, and the first assist for Lilly.

The score remained 1-0 despite constant pressure from the Red Stars in the second half until Lilly sealed the victory with a penalty kick goal in the first minute of stoppage time. Substitute Jennie Nobis, who scored the game-tying goal in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with FC Gold Pride, was fouled in the penalty area by Chicago defender Nikki Krzysik. Lilly then stepped up and sent Jönsson the wrong way, going to the right side of the goal to put the Breakers up 2-0.

Boston goalkeeper, Alli Lipsher, recorded the shutout in just her second start of the season. She made four saves in the win, including a crucial stop on a one-on-one with her left hand against Lindsay Tarpley in the 77th minute to preserve the lead.

After an evenly-played first half in which each team had three shots and one corner, the Red Stars went on the attack in the second half, outshooting the Breakers 10-1, and holding a 6-0 advantage in corners. Brittany Klein had perhaps the best chance of the half to pull Chicago level when her shot from inside the penalty area was cleared off the line by a Breakers defender.

The hosts had nearly equalized right after Rodriguez’ first-half strike when Lindsay Tarpley hit the crossbar from 20 yards out in the 23rd minute, shooting from just outside the right side of the penalty area. Just a minute after that, Angela Hucles set up an opportunity for Boston when she beat a defender on the right side and sent a low dangerous cross into the area toward Kelly Smith that was cleared by the Red Stars.

Karen Carney thought she had leveled the match shortly before halftime when she ran onto a ball from Megan Rapinoe inside the area and fired into the back of the net, but it was one of five times the Breakers defense had caught a Chicago attacker offside in the match.

The Breakers return home to face the Washington Freedom, Wednesday at 7 p.m., in a match that will be broadcast live regionally on Comcast SportsNet New England. It will be the fourth match in 11 days for Boston.

Box Score
June 21, 2009
Toyota Park – Bridgeview, Ill.

GOALS 1 2 – Total
Boston 1 1 2
Chicago 0 0 0

Scoring Summary
First Half:
1 - BOS: Rodriguez 1 (Lilly 1), 22nd minute

Second Half:
2 – BOS: Lilly 3 (penalty kick), 90+1 minute.

Stats
Shots: CHI 13 BOS 4; Shots on Goal: CHI 5 BOS 2; Saves: Caroline Jönsson (CHI) 0, Alli Lipsher (BOS) 4; Corners: CHI 7 BOS 1; Fouls: CHI 15 BOS 11; Offsides: CHI 5 BOS 4.

Lineups
CHICAGO: Caroline Jonsson, Ifeoma Dieke (Cristiane, 46th minute), Nikki Krzysik, Jill Oakes (Carli Lloyd, 71st minute), Natalie Spilger; Frida Östberg, Chioma Igwe, Brittany Klein, Marian Dalmy (Megan Rapinoe, 18th minute), Karen Carney; Lindsay Tarpley.

BOSTON: Alli Lipsher; Nancy Augustyniak-Goffi (Kelly Schmedes, 54th minute), Amy LePeilbet, Candace Chapman, Heather Mitts; Kasey Moore (Christine Latham, 68th minute), Alex Scott, Kristine Lilly, Angela Hucles; Kelly Smith, Amy Rodriguez (Jennie Nobis, 60th minute).

Misconduct Summary
Cautions:
Boston – Smith, 16th minute.
Chicago – Igwe, 86th minute; Krzysik, 90+1, minute.

Ejections: None.

Attendance: 3,889
Weather – 90, mostly cloudy

Officials – R: Dallas Malhiwsky; A1: Veronica Perez; A2: Greg Dopka; FO: Stephanie Toth