WOW, WOW, WOW. What a match. Without a doubt the most exciting match the Beat have been in this year, if not the most exciting match in the short history of the WUSA. The critics at the AJC (the local Atlanta newspapers) who were bemoaning the lack of scoring early on should have seen this one. Five goals, two lead changes, tied at 1-1 and again at 2-2. High scoring first half, quality play in the second half and a dramatic goal to finish the match, not to mention physical play, a little feistiness, and the first red card in the history of the WUSA. This was all a part of a rematch of a controversial match from earlier this season
All of this despite the fact that much of the second string was on the field for the Beat. Injury-plagued Sun Wen is still recovering from an ankle injury. Reports are that she is recovering and hopefully will be ready to play next week. Three Canadian players (Charmaine Hooper, Sharolta Nonen, and Amy Walsh) were all called up for national team duty and are touring Europe. At game-time, it was learned that goalkeeper Bianna Scurry had a banged up knee and wouldn't be able to play.
Despite missing two of the big four offensive players, the Beat got on the scoreboard quickly. Kerry Gragg took a pass from offensive workhorse Emily Burt and got the ball past Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo. This was all in the third minute of the match.
The lead didn't last very long. In the 13th minute, the very dangerous Shannon MacMillian took a beautiful free kick from about 30 feet from the goal that curled into the corner of the net. It is doubtful that Scurry could have gotten to that ball had she been in the match. It was a beautiful shot and a well earned goal from the WUSA's goals leader.
26 minutes later, another Spirit goal would come from an unlikely source. Fan Yunjie, the Chinese defender, came forward for a Spirit corner kick. MacMillian took the corner and placed it right on Fan's head, who made no mistake in putting the ball into the goal, giving the Spirit a 2-1 lead. Perhaps I am the only one who noticed this, but Mercy Akide, the Nigerian international, clearly interfered with Beat keeper Melanie Wilson. It was Akide's interference of keeper Brianna Scurry that led to the late Spirit goal in the first match (the first given up by the Beat this season), tying the match.
The Beat have only trailed once at halftime this season, and today wouldn't be the second. The increasingly resiliant Beat scored another goal in the 42nd minute. Kylie Bivens took a corner kick and sent it beautifully into the box. Cindy Parlow, who being 5'11" and having impressive leaping ability, was able to tower above the Spirit defense, get her head to the ball, and redirect it into the San Diego goal. 2-2 halftime score.
Both teams came out of the locker room looking to get the lead. Finally, in dramatic fashion, the Beat came up with the game winner in the 80th minute. Nikki Serlenga (whose midfield play has been key for Atlanta in these last two wins) picked up a loose ball at the 18. Serlenga then kicked the ball to the far post where a waiting Cindy Parlow headed the ball into an empty net, providing a vital three points for the Beat and bring our beloved team atop the league with the New York Power (oh great, another Atlanta-New York rivalry - any John Rockers on the Beat?).
The match, which had been physical throughout, turned nasty toward the end, especially during added time. Julie Foudy was issued a yellow card for a dirty tackle of Cindy Parlow in the corner as the match was winding down. Foudy fouled her again and Parlow, who looked like was simply trying to maintain her balance after being pushed in the back, hit Foudy with the back of her hand. Parlow was issued a red card, the first in the history of the WUSA.
Parlow will now serve a one match suspension in the in the I-85 rematch with Carolina. That is a revenge game that the Beat need to win as the Hotlanta 11 make the five hour trip up I-85 to North Carolina. Hopefully Sun will be healthy and be able to play, and that Hooper, Walsh, and Nonen will all be fresh enough after their European jaunt and be effective in this match against one of the three bottom-feeders of this league. The Beat, who are showing considerable depth, are as in-form as any team in the league and will need to continue the momenteum as the Beat visit a team that has always defeated the girls in blue 2-0 this season.