WNY Flash Ties First Match with Marta, in Atlanta: Undefeated but Not Unscathed

KENNESAW, Ga. (April 24, 2011) – Brazilian international and five time FIFA Female Player of the Year Marta joined her new team, the Western New York Flash of Women's Professional Soccer, after missing the club's season opener in Boston last week.

In Atlanta, the Flash continued their unbeaten streak, but were unable to establish a win streak, finishing with a 2-2 draw vs. the Atlanta Beat at Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium.
 
It took just two minutes for the Flash to gain the advantage over the Beat. Brittany Bock stripped a Beat player of the ball and passed it off to Christine Sinclair. The Canadian International gained the advantage two minutes in when Sinclair found the back of the net off an Atlanta Beat defensive error.  Sinclair capitalized with a low, driven ball to the far post to put away the first goal of the match. The Flash had the majority of the possession in the first half, continuing to press with a four to one advantage in shots and earning all three corners of the half.
 
At the start of the second half, five time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta replaced Gemma Davison, making her debut for the Flash. Just 10 minutes into the second half, Atlanta Beat captain Lori Chalupny scored when her solo effort proved an equalizer for the Beat.  From the top of the box, Chalupny touched to her right and shot a rocket to the low right corner.  The ball kissed the inside of the post before redirecting into the side netting.  

Western New York rebounded quickly as the two time WPS MVP Marta made her mark to put the Flash up 2-1. Sinclair lofted a dangerous ball towards the near post, where Marta flicked a header into the goal in the 66th minute for her first goal of the season.
 
The home side struck again three minutes later as US National Team player Carli Lloyd received a ball five yards outside of the box and took a quick look up before striking a driven ball up and over goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
 
The Flash continued to press for the go ahead goal and came close when Sinclair's shot hit the crossbar and Beat goalkeeper Alli Lipsher touched it over the bar. The Flash were unable to convert, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
 
"I thought we started off strong in the first half, but we weren't able to capitalize on our strong possession. Atlanta came out strong and with more confidence in the second half and put us on our heels a bit," Head Coach Aaran Lines said. 

"This is only our second game as a team, and we were away from home. We will take the point and look to build from this game moving forward to our home opener next week Sunday in Rochester."

The tepid result illuminates the question many were asking when the Flash signed Marta to a half million dollar contract for one year of service. Will Marta help or hurt this already stacked roster?

A simple cursory comparison of the results of last week's defeat of 2-1 Boston, a team that soundly dispatched Atlanta by a 4-0 score in the opener for those two clubs, versus the 2-2 draw with the team that Boston so soundly defeated leaves one wondering even more about Marta's value to the club.

Marta's Brazilian international team mate Maureen was also signed by the Flash at the last minute, and the two players arrived in Buffalo in time for game two of the 18 game season. Marta was unable to join the Flash for the opener due to a delay in processing immigration and eligibility paperwork. 

But was Marta really necessary for the Flash's success? The club had already signed six starters from last year's now defunct league champions, FC Gold Pride, including Canadian international Sinclair, plus Swedish international Caroline Seger, top rookie Alex Morgan, former Chicago rookie standout Whitney Engen and US international goal keeper Ashlyn Harris. With a talent pool like that, was it necessary to spend a half million on Marta (more than the Flash's total payroll)?

Professional sports is full of examples of talented teams being greedy and signing a marquee player, only to find the addition of that player has a negative effect on team chemistry, morale and work ethic.

In all fairness, Marta hasn't had much time to blend and bond with her new team, but on the other hand, the Flash had not played a professional opponent in any format prior to their decisive win over Boston last week.

If the Flash fails to take a quick lead in the standings and remain there throughout the season, fans will certainly wonder if the club might have been more successful without the mega-star. All we know for now is that the first test was not a good sign.