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KENNESAW, Ga. (June 30, 2010) – Marta with a pair of goals led her Marta XI to a 5-2 victory over Abby XI at the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in front of 4,610 fans Wednesday evening at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.  Amy Rodriguez added a goal and an assist for the victors while Heather O’Reilly chipped in two assists in a losing effort.

Marta, the MVP of the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, did her damage in the early going as she set the tone for her team’s win.

In the 7th minute, Marta XI scored the first goal of the match as FC Gold Pride defender Rachel Buehler made a run up the right flank and passed laterally to Kelly Smith.  The Boston Breakers midfielder slipped a pass to Marta that split the Abby XI defense and the FC Gold Pride forward buried her shot past Atlanta Beat goalkeeper Hope Solo.

A minute later Marta struck again.  Making a move past Boston Breakers defender Amy LePeilbet in the box, she dribbled to the endline and snuck her shot inside of the near post past Solo.

In the 13th minute, Marta almost completed the hat trick as Atlanta Beat forward Ramona Bachmann fired a cross into the box from the left flank.  Marta leapt to meet the ball, but her header landed on top of the goal.

Marta XI then added another goal in the 31st minute as Kristine Lilly on the left side of the box passed to Allison Falk whose shot from eight yards out was blocked by Solo.  FC Gold Pride forward Christine Sinclair was lurking in the six-yard box and knocked it into the goal to extend Marta XI’s lead to 3-0.

Abby XI finally got on the scoreboard in the 35th minute when Sky Blue FC midfielder Heather O’Reilly crossed the ball into the box from the right flank.  Abby Wambach was making a far post run and drove a header on goal that Washington Freedom teammate Erin McLeod dove to stop, but Atlanta Beat forward Eniola Aluko pounced on the rebound shooting it into an empty net.

Marta XI had an excellent chance in the 53rd minute as Bachmann played a pass into Marta.  The Brazilian superstar backheeled the ball on and second-half substitute Amy Rodriguez likewise quickly flicked the ball into the path of Bachmann who had continued her run into the penalty box.  Bachmann only had Solo to beat but her hard shot went right into the goalkeeper’s stomach and glanced away.

In the 74th minute, Marta XI increased its lead to 4-1 as Rodriguez ran onto a defensive clearance.  As two Abby XI defenders closed in on her, Rodriguez spun and laid the ball off for Aya Miyama.  The Atlanta Beat midfielder dribbled to the top of the box and unleashed a low shot that bounced into the goal under diving Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden.

An O’Reilly cross led to Abby XI’s second goal of the evening in the 78th minute.  From the left side, the Sky Blue FC midfielder served the ball into the center of the penalty box.  Cheney met the cross in front of the goal and powered her header into the back of the net to make the score 4-2.

In the 80th, Rodriguez fought Atlanta Beat defender Ellertson for a loose ball and winning the battle lobbed her shot over Loyden’s head to push Marta XI’s lead back to three goals, 5-2.

The 2010 WPS All-Star Game employed a unique playground pick ‘em format to create the teams.  The top two vote-getters in 2010 WPS All-Star voting, the Washington Freedom’s Abby Wambach and FC Gold Pride’s Marta, served as team captains and selected the rest of their team Monday evening in consultation with the All-Star head coaches.  Wambach chose “Abby XI” with Philadelphia Independence Head Coach Paul Riley, while Marta chose “Marta XI” with FC Gold Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya.

The All-Star Reserves were divided between Abby XI and Marta XI prior to the Pick ‘Em Event.  Reserves Caroline Seger (ankle) of the Philadelphia Independence and Kate Markgraf (hamstring) of the Chicago Red Stars were late scratches due to injury and will not be replaced.  Marta XI starting goalkeeper Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC) was injured in training on Tuesday and was replaced in the starting lineup by the Washington Freedom’s Erin McLeod while FC Gold Pride ‘keeper Nicole Barnhart was named an All-Star Reserve.

WPS Sunday on FSC returns on Sunday, July 11 when FC Gold Pride hosts the Washington Freedom at 6pm ET / 3pm PT.

Boxscore >> (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)

QUOTES

Erin McLeod, Marta XI (Washington Freedom)
It was an honor to be on the field with that much talent.  It was pretty cool.  Even if I gave out a bad ball, it was no problem for anyone on the team to take a sweet touch.  I’ve been in awe.  Yesterday I was like a kid in a candy shop at our training.  Just the quality on every play was incredible.

Heather O’Reilly, Abby XI (Sky Blue FC)
That was a lot of fun tonight – more tiring than you would think because it’s just all about attack.  It’s all about scoring goals.  I’m not used to a 5-2 game.  But it was a lot of fun with the world class talent out on the field.  It’s an honor to play with those players in front of a great crowd here.  All in all, a great night.  I wish I could be on the winning end of it of course as a competitor, but this game is about the fans and about celebrating WPS.

Kelley O’Hara, Abby XI (FC Gold Pride)
It was a lot of fun.  It was pretty light hearted but at the same time a lot of competition.  I think everybody enjoyed themselves.  I told Marta and Sinclair they better have some goals for us on Saturday because they scored a bunch tonight.

Christine Sinclair, Marta XI (FC Gold Pride)
It was just a blast.  I don’t think anyone gave up on the two teams.  Here you are playing some of the best players in the world.  We were joking that we’re the United Nations because we had people from all over the place.  It was so much fun playing with the people you normally don’t get to play with.

On KSU Soccer Stadium
This stadium is absolutely amazing.  I think everyone who is not on Atlanta is a little envious at the setup they have here.  The field is amazing, the fans are amazing and the lockerrooms are world class.  I think they have something that the rest of the league can look at and try and copy.

Marta, Marta XI (FC Gold Pride)
I think the game was a great game.  We gave the fans what they came for which was to have fun and enjoy it.  Of course, I’m really happy because we won the game.  I think when you get together this many good players, it makes it easy for anybody on the field.  When you look at everybody on the field, they are the top players in the world right now.  So it’s easy and enjoyable to play.

On her second goal, which she snuck past Hope Solo inside the near post
I tried to beat my defender.  I brought the ball to my powerful (sarcastic) left foot and all I could see was that space there.  I tried to hit it in that space and that was it.

Abby Wambach, Abby XI (Washington Freedom)
When we come here as individuals to create an all-star team…it’s going to be individual flair.  Marta’s obviously the best in the world at individual flair.  They were successful at getting in behind us early on.  It was just about getting everyone off the field without any injuries, giving the fans something to cheer about and having some fun along the way.  Not too often do you get to play with some of these players.  It was fun and exciting.  A lot of the kids out there were just telling me how much fun it was to see everybody on one field.

On being on the losing side
At 3-0, I was getting a little frustrated.  I’m not going to lie.  As a competitor and somebody who doesn’t like to lose – from the time I was five years old I would storm off in a fit because my brothers would never let me win being the youngest of seven.  No body likes to lose, but this is an all-star game.  As long as everybody had a good time and we saw some great goals, some great individual talent and if everybody is healthy coming out of this game, that’s what’s important.