More after the jump:
Scores:
WNY Flash 0-1 Philadelphia Independence
Sky Blue FC 0-0 Boston Breakers
Atlanta Beat 2-3 magicJack
First I would like to point your attention to the podcast of the first-ever “Flash through the WPS” radio show in Rochester, which I was graciously invited to be a part of. The show will air every Saturday on WHTK FM 107.3 and 1280 AM. Or, just listen online here at noon on Saturday.
This past Saturday included Flash utility player McCall Zerboni, Flash Head Coach Aaran Lines and Philadelphia forward Tasha Kai. It was honestly a really fun time and I hope you all enjoyed listening as much as I enjoyed being on the show. During the show, Jeff DiVeronica and I talk about why McCall Zerboni is the WPS MVP halfway through the season. I’ll let you listen to hear why I think that, but despite a very average outing on Sunday, I am sticking to it for now. It’s been a joy to watch her play (in every position). And, I’m just saying, I’ve been talking up Zerboni’s play for weeks. On Tuesday, she was named WPS Player of the Month for May.
And be sure to check out this week’s SI column breaking down the Flash’s first loss. How frustrated has Marta been? Very, but she is trying to stay positive, as always.
Prior to Saturday’s match, magicJack owner Dan Borislow told the Marietta Daily Journal that Atlanta is comparable to a high school team. That’s pretty harsh (although it did make me laugh), but magicJack backed it up with another win. Here is what he said:
“It’ll be interesting to see if Atlanta will ever give us a game. We demolished them the first two times. Maybe they will get a team better than the high school team they have been playing with.”
Steve Goff has logged a great account of a great (but scary) story that I bet most of us did not know about USWNT defender Ali Krieger.
Got 1999 Women’s World Cup fever? Check out this nostalgic piece from Yanks Are Coming.
Filip Bondy writes about the past year in U.S. Soccer, calling it “thoroughly demoralizing.” A bit of an overstatement, but the piece takes a look at the U.S. Women. I was part of the chat with Sunil Gulati from which Bondy uses the quote of the U.S. Soccer chief and it was a very defensive one. Gulati had to shield off talks of people calling for Bob Bradley’s head after an embarrassing game against Spain, the small crowd at Red Bull Arena and the U.S. Women looking to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Then there is The Post Game trying to ask if Hope Solo is a victim of sexism. In a word, no. Athletes get blasted all the time for doing stupid things on social media sites and plenty of them are men. Nobody ever said Solo was not “ladylike,” as the article states.
If people want to talk about sexism, how about the fact that we are still talking about how attractive Heather Mitts is at a time when there is a bigger story on the field. She suffered crushing injuries just before the 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cups (though she wasn’t in serious contention to go in 2003) and it looked like she would be cursed again in 2011 with a hamstring problem, but she is going. Is that the right decision? Maybe not, but it’s tough for anyone (including Pia Sundhage) not to get swayed by that embattled story. Regardless, enough about her looks. I want to know if Ali Krieger or a healthy Mitts is Sundhage’s No. 1 choice at right back this summer.
ESPN’s Mark Young writes to use Abby Wambach off the bench. Interesting concept, although I can’t say I agree. Lost in all this talk of Abby Wambach’s so-called decline is the fact that over the past 18 months she has become more of a playmaker than a out-and-out goal scorer. People don’t seem to realize that, though.
Ian Darke has a pretty similar take on the USWNT as I do: Abused by fans and media, but still dangerous enough to win it all.
If you haven’t already seen some of my Fox Soccer Gold Cup coverage, check it out. Here is why Jamaica could pose a threat to the U.S. (with a little connection to the USWNT-Mexico WWC Qualifier gaff) and my first piece from last week on the this critical time for U.S. Soccer. I’ve enjoyed covering Jamaica, but I’ll now be shifting to Women’s World Cup coverage alongside Jenna Pel. Speaking of: We have a pretty awesome Women’s World Cup preview guide coming out later this week that you will want to check out. More on that soon.
And Germany can breath easy again. Birgit Prinz should be alright.
