Philadelphia vs. Boston: A Play-By-Play (and Other Miscellany)
T-120 minutes to kickoff: Tony DiCicco's Boston Breakers have been running on high voltage for so long that they are in the running to not only finish second, but accomplish the unthinkable and reel FC Gold Pride in.
With the Pride earning their second straight draw, the Breakers have a chance to gain ground on the league leaders of Women's Professional Soccer today against the Philadelphia Independence.
T-90: The Indies, under the tutelage of Mr. Paul Riley, have had to eat some humble pie dished out by the likes of the Washington Freedom. Philadelphia will look to bounce back from that disastrous performance as they host the Breakers here at the friendly confines of the John A. Farrell Stadium in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
T-60: We have an hour to kickoff, and right now, Boston is two points behind Philadelphia for second with a 7-6-4 record (25 points). The Indies, meanwhile, sit at 8-6-3 (27 points) and are 12 points behind FC Gold Pride.
T-30: These lineups are brought to you by Women's Professional Soccer, Bleacher Report and The View.
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FIRST HALF START: 5:10 P.M. PT
1' - Kickoff time, then...
2' - Karina LeBlanc pushes that away for a Boston corner.
5' - Here comes Philly, and the Breakers force a throw-in. Special pink ball for PUMA Project Pink, so it looks like the protagonists are playing with a shiny dodgeball more fit for bombardier than for soccer.
7' - This is Jen Buczkowski, who dishes it to Holmfridur Magnusdottir, the Icelandic international. Magnusdottir was suspended due to a red card, and that may have something to do with the Freedom rising from the dea.
8' - Eight minutes in, and it's scoreless so far.
9' - As you know, pink is the color for breast cancer awareness. I personally keep those suffering from it in my thoughts and prayers.
Lindsey's pass misses the mark. Goal kick, Alyssa Naeher.
10' - John A. Farrell is the football home of the West Chester Rams who compete in NCAA Division II. Not a surprise to see American Football pitches used for the world game; another case is Harvard Stadium, which is used by the Breakers.
11' - Naeher with the grab.
12' - Boston goes on the offensive. And Kelly Smith should have done better.
13' - Karina LeBlanc directs, and that chance for the Breakers breaks into pieces.
14' - This is Lindsay Tarpley for Boston. She is in her 11th match with the gals in blue, and she's doing a mighty fine job in her role, I might say. Still scoreless.
15' - Ifeoma Dieke with the clearance for the Breakers. And Caroline Seger must be kicking herself for blowing the shot on goal. Naeher with the goal kick.
16' - Chairs on the track... an interesting nuance as the Breakers reset the distribution.
17' - Possession battle here in the 17th minute. It's still scoreless.
18' - Amy Rodriguez was not going to get to that Caroline Seger pass. Offsides, Joanna Lohman. Lohman has three goals this season. She will look to up her production for the rest of the campaign.
19' - Here's Holmfridur Magnusdottir. Good defending from Boston's Stephanie Cox...
20' - ...and the free kick never materialized to much.
21' - Still scoreless.
22' - Throw-in on both sides, and the pace seems to be slowing down.
23' - Shot goes wide.
24' - Here comes Boston on the loose
GOAL! Boston Breakers, 8 Lauren Cheney, Assist 10 Kelly Smith.
Excellent power and touch from the No. 8 of Boston. This is why the Breakers are running on high voltage in the Power Rankings that will be issued soon. Excellent delivery from Kelly Smith, and Karina LeBlanc had no chance at saving that. Terrible defending from Allison Falk, too.
25' - 1-0 Boston.
26' - Goal kick for Karina LeBlanc.
27' - The Independence will need to rally back; else this week will be one to forget.
28' - Free kick for the Indies.
GOAL! Philadelphia Independence, 26 Holmfridur Magnusdottir.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a game. Scintillating free kick from the Icelandic international. It's 1-1.
29' - That is a comeback right there, and now the match opens up.
30' - GOAL! Philadelphia Independence, 26 Holmfridur Magnusdottir.
The goals are coming out now. That was a solid shot from Magnusdottir. It's her third of the year, her first brace in WPS... this is a breakout performance.
31' - Now it's the Breakers who are on their heels, who have given up two goals in as many minutes. Time to shake things up, Tony...
32' - That was a cracker, off the far post and in. Sensational. And now it's Joanna Lohman, who is marked by Ifeoma Dieke. Fabulous defending.
33' - We are 33 minutes into this contest, and it's turning out to be a goal festival of the highest highs. It's 2-1 Independence.
34' - Here's Heather Mitts, and now it's Cox, whose pass is cleared out by Dieke.
35' - Breakers move the ball back for their next stanza. Kristine Lilly with the throw-in. Now it's the Independence, pushing to increase the margin. Alex Scott with the stop for Boston.
36' - Lilly almost made that 2-2. She was onside.
37' - Buczkowski with the pressure. Now it's Seger and DiMartino, setting it up for Lori Lindsey, who should have done better on that chance.
38' - Magnusdottir with the clearance. And here is a corner for Boston, with Lilly to take. Too high, and Dieke was off. Goal kick, Karina LeBlanc.
39' - Tina DiMartino's chance is stopped by Ifeoma Dieke.
40' - A ball for Amy Rodriguez is too long and is swept up by Alyssa Naeher.
41' - Long shot from distance from Rodriguez.
42' - Leave it to Frida. That is a riot. Back come the Indies. It's Seger as the chants from the Daughters of Betsy (a.k.a. Sons of Ben) come.
43' - LeBlanc with the grab.
44' - Lauren Cheney with the throw as we roll towards halftime. Philly on the transition, and Boston counters.
45' - Rodriguez is double-marked. Speculative shot from the team's leading scorer.
One minute of stoppage time. Here is Amy LePeilbet, and that will be a corner. One final shot. Cleared.
45' + 1' - It's halftime, and the Indies come back to make it a 2-1 game.
SECOND HALF START: 6:12 P.M. PT
46' - Time for the second half. Here's LePeilbet. And here's Lindsey with the free kick. Didn't amount to much.
48' - And here is Amy Rodriguez. They will look to put the pressure on Boston, Philly will.
49' - Jordan Angeli, and now the Independence sweep.
50' - 50 minutes into the contest, with the Independence leading 2-1.
51' - Now it's Lindsay Tarpley, but she gets no dice as Philly eases the tempo a little.
52' - GOAL! Boston Breakers, 10 Kelly Smith.
The festival continues. Who wants to be a keeper? No one on a night like this. Excellent volley from Smith to make it 2-2.
53' - Now it's anyone's game.
54' - Ifeoma Dieke bails Alyssa Naeher out of danger. And a corner for the Independence ensues.
55' - Allison Falk should have done betters. And those vuvuzelas are back. How's it been, dear horns!
56' - Back come the Breakers. Here's Smith, and Alex Scott is jammed. Tarpley is fouled, and this will be a free kick to Boston.
57' - Great saves from Karina LeBlanc. Faith, she doing something right for once. The corner is cleared. Tony DiCicco is beside himself as his club get called for the foul.
58' - We are now 58 minutes in, and it is 2-2. Lori Lindsey's looking for help. Leslie Osborne with the dispossession.
59' - Alex Scott with the throw. Now here is a chance from Jordan Angeli, but it misses wide right. Had 3-2 all over it; the tap-in couldn't have had the worst of timing.
60' - Back come the Indies, who are locking in a battle of possession vs. counterpossession with the Breakers.
61' - This is exciting football from Boston and Philadelphia tonight. Magnificent football.
62' - Cox wasn't going to get to that one.
Substitution Boston Breakers
IN 15 Fabiana
OUT 4 Jordan Angeli
63' - Alyssa Naeher goes off her line for the scoop. Now here's a shot from the Independence, but that is snatched up by the Boston keeper. DiCicco is giving a mouthful to the fourth official today
64' - Great clearance from Karina LeBlanc, and superb help from Boston's backline. Goal kick for the Indies keeper.
65' - Nice touches from Holmfridur Magnusdottir. 65 minutes in, and it's 2-2.
66' - Amy LePeilbet, the Breakers' GPS tracking device, on the feast. And here's Nikki Krzysik.
67' - Caroline Seger is shaken up. Naeher with the hip check. That's called making a statement, everyone.
68' - Seger gets back up to her feet, and it's back to action. Goal kick, Naeher.
69' - We are in the position minute and it is still 2-2.
70' - Paul Riley keeps his cards in his hands for now. Rodriguez's chance is neutralized by Alyssa Naeher.
71' - Chance for Tina DiMartino is kept in check.
72' - Too long for Smith. Goal kick, LeBlanc. I think we got a substitution on the way.
73' - Substitiution Philadelphia Independence
IN 10 Lianne Sanderson
OUT 17 Joanna Lohman
74' - Sanderson has three goals and two assists this season.
75' - LeBlanc with the save on Smith. They are going tit for tat right now.
76' - Less than 15 and stoppage away from this match becoming a done deal and it's 2-2.
77' - Connection between Lori Lindsey and Amy Rodriguez goes off.
78' - Now what is this all about? Magnusdottir with the blatant push. Not sure why Dallas Smolinski is not laying down the law and giving the card. Good grab from Karina LeBlanc.
79' - Philly on the counter. Indies free kick, and Leslie Osborne's questioning the calls as the free kick from Magnusdottir to Falk goes for naught.
80' - Lindsey with the throw-in. Naeher will grab that one for a goal kicki.
81' - The past couple of matches makes you wonder if FC Gold Pride is turning into the Hares of the East Bay rather than the Lionesses of the East Bay.
82' - Back comes Philly, and Lianne Sanderson had no chance getting to that pass. Overtapped.
83' - This may be a 2-2 game with the way things are going right now. Now here's Tina DiMartino, and the offsides flag is raised.
84' - Paul Riley is wondering if they can push for the winner at this juncture of the contest. Fabiana tries to get a ball inside, but to no avail.
85' - 85 minutes in, and it's still 2-2. DiCicco's patience seems to be running a little thin. Understandably. Kryzsik with the initial clearance on Smith. Now it's Fabiana.
86' - Philly's backline forces the counter. Boston with numbers back, and Alyssa Naeher neutralizes that sequence, to the howls of the locals here in West Chester.
87' - Smith is tackled, and a lazy free kick sails out for a LeBlanc free kick.
88' - The last four matches for Boston will be road contests. Here's a free kick for the Indies.
89' - Now it's Stephanie Cox. Karina LeBlanc is asking for an offsides. Ayayay, that has 3-2 Boston written all over it. There will be one minute of stoppage time.
Yellow card 26 Holmfridur Magnusdottir
Philadelphia Independence
90' - Alyssa Naeher with the anticipation on Amy Rodriguez.
90' + 1' - Magnusdottir seems to be trigger happy at this point and she's paid the price.
That does it. It's a draw.
Stay tuned for this week's WPS Power Rankings on Bleacher Report and the View from Victoria Street, as well as the Fan Corner.
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