Although this match was on national TV (CNN/SI), if no one has the station, is it truly on national TV? I don't know anyone who has CNN/SI in their home, but I went to a local bar with some friends in the hopes of seeing this match. We arrived at about 6:20 (20 minutes after the scheduled starting time), and CNN/SI news was on. We had no idea what was going on. The people at the bar gave up looking for the match. It turned out that there was a 64 minute lightening delay at the beginning of the match. Instead of having a message on the screen, as common sense would dictate if you are trying to build an audience, there was nothing. So, though I made the effort to watch the match, thanks to the idiocy of CNN/SI and the WUSA (to put this match on a channel no one has), I was unable to see this match. Just shows that CNN/SI is as bad as CNN.
I didn't see the match, but those who did said Sun Wen was playing at about 90%. I was very surprised she played. I think it would have been better to wait until the Washington match and keep her off of the cement carpet, but Coach Stone knows his team. Parlow and Serlenga were missing due to national team duty, and Amy Walsh was injured while playing for Canada the day previous in a collision with Cindy Parlow. With Miller out for the season, Atlanta is still a bit shorthanded.
All reports seem to indicate that the Charge had the balance of play in the first half. In fact, the only shot on goal for the Beat in the first half came from Sun Wen in the 2nd minute. She has been frustrated by injury all year, but if she can get healthy and fit by the end of the season, I like Atlanta's chances to win it all.
The second half seemed to have more action, and the Charge got dirty in the waning minutes. The Charge keeper, Melissa Moore, took down Emily Burt five yards out of the box. Moore was issued the red card and ejected from the match. Four minutes later, Homare Sawa made the Charge pay for their dirty play with a goal to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead. It looked like Atlanta would get a win on the cement carpet, but alas, it wasn't to be. Two minutes later, Charmaine Hooper collected her second yellow card of the match for a foul on Jennifer Tietjen, bringing out the red, and the ejection. In the third minute of injury time, Liu Ailing scored on a head ball from five yards out. It was Liu's sixth goal of the season.
Besides the obvious comment that the beautiful game of soccer shouldn't be played on the cement carpet, the Beat got what they needed, a draw. New York also got a draw, so the Beat are still two behind the Power and three ahead of the Charge. The Beat are now finished the season series with the Charge, finishing 1-0-2. Next comes Mia (who?) and the Washington Freedom. This is a dangerous team that hasn't quite clicked it together yet, much like the Beat. Once again however, the big four of the Beat will have to wait another week to play together healthy as a casualty of Hooper's red card is a one match suspension. However, Sawa seems to be playing well, Sun is getting healthier, and Parlow will be back. Scurry is also back and the defense is playing well. Look for good things back on friendly ground next week against Mia's Freedom, a team Atlanta has already defeated this season.
In other important matches coming up next weekend, the Power are on the road at the Bay Area Cyber Rays, and the Charge are at the Carolina Courage. With the other top teams playing on the road, this is a chance for the Beat to move up in the standings.
WAR BEAT!!!