It’s a sweltering afternoon in Carson and to call this crowd “sparse” – or even a crowd, frankly – would be charitable.
The Sol XI (4-4-2): goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc; defenders Brittney Bock, Stephanie Cox, Allison Faulk, Manya Makoski; midfielders Ali Wagner, Shannon Boxx, Aya Miyama, Camille Abily; forwards Christie Welsh, Marta.
FC Gold pride has Nicole Barnhart in goal, U.S. internationals Rachel Buehler and Tina DiMartino among its defensive corps, Leslie Osborne and Brazilian star Formiga in midfield and a strike force of Christine Sinclair and Erika Arakawa.
Tiffeny Milbrett is on the bench.
And did I mention it’s hot? (I feel for the person in the fuzzy Sol shark mascot outfit).