Sky Blue FC stays in thick of playoff chase with victory
by WPS - Communications
08/22/2010 - 05:14 p.m.
Sky Blue FC celebrates Yael Averbuch's game-winning goal.
View the boxscore >>
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Aug. 22, 2010) – Sky Blue FC recorded a key 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Independence on Sunday afternoon at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. The win pushed the New Jersey side (7-9-4, 25 points) back into a tie with the Washington Freedom for the fourth and final playoff spot.
"I am very proud of the performance that our team gave tonight," Sky Blue FC head coach Rick Stainton said. "We were able to apply all of the components that we have been developing at training into the game, particularly our ability to maintain possession and build our attack in numbers."
The Sky Blue FC win snapped a three-match winless streak against the Independence, and that is something that Stainton feels could give his team some momentum as it heads into the home stretch of the regular season.
"We proved to ourselves tonight that we can capitalize on teams regardless of who they are," he said. "Philadelphia is a very good team in this league, and we had yet to have any success against them until tonight. To be able to correct our mistakes and accomplish that at this point in the season should be a nice building block for us as we fight for a playoff berth."
The match began in rainy conditions and was called to a halt in the 17th minute due to lightning in the area. With the match scoreless, a nearly two-hour weather delay ensued.
When they got back to playing, Sky Blue FC took the lead in the 60th minute as Heather O'Reilly rushed onto a loose ball at the right corner of the Philadelphia box and then found just a step of space in front of her. She immediately chipped the ball to her left where Averbuch was waiting for the distribution. Without hesitation, Averbuch one-timed a missile into the left upper 90 of the netting, and the host side had the first advantage of the match, 1-0.
"I kind of tried to hang out on the left flank a little because Kacey and Rosana had sucked a lot of players across," Averbuch said of the goal. "Then Heather was able to send the ball over the top of the defense, and I said 'You know what? I'm going to go for it.' It's one of those you hit, and it either goes upper corner or into the stands. Luckily, I was able to connect with it well."
Just before the lightning delay, Sky Blue FC’s leading goalscorer Laura Kalmari had to be subbed out of the game in the 15th minute as she suffered a large cut on her shin from cleat studs while challenging for the ball. Kalmari was taken to the hospital to be treated but was back on the bench by the time the game restarted.
"We’re disappointed that we weren’t able to capture a win on the road tonight," said Independence General Manager Louise Waxler. "We are still looking to secure a playoff berth, and we have full confidence that the Independence has what it takes to move forward and earn a spot in the postseason race for the title."
The second-place Independence (10-7-4, 34 points) return to Philadelphia to host the third-place Boston Breakers on Sunday, Aug. 29 on Fox Soccer Channel (6pm ET/3pm PT). Sky Blue FC travels to Washington to play a pivotal match against the Freedom on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7pm ET.
View the boxscore >>