The Sol are still trailing 1-0 in the 59th minute.
But the Sol, which played in a conventional 4-4-2 to start the game, came out after half time in what looked like a 3-6-1, with Marta up top. A colleague noted it was the first time he’d seen that formation since Steve Sampson used it against Austria just before the 1998 World Cup.
Defender Katie Larkin and the ineffective Han Duan were pulled at the half for Aly Wagner and Liz Bogus, BTW.
Athletica just scored in the 11th minute when Eniola Aluko got behind the Sol defense and pulled the ball back to an unmarked Amanda Cinalli.
Remember, the Sol can capture the regular season title with a win today.
I got a late start blogging because I’m running around for a light feature for Thursday’s Daily Breeze talking to moms, their daughters – and nuns if you can believe it. Yes, nuns.
I’ll keep updating as best I can between interviews.
The Sol starting XI: Karina LeBlanc, Manya Makoski, Stephanie Cox, Brittany Bock, Katie Larkin, Shannon Boxx, Camille Abily, Aya Miyama, McCall Zerboni, Han Duan, Marta.
We’re in the 17th minute, BTW.
It’s soccer moms and daughters day in Carson with the unusual kick off at noon at Home Depot Center.
If the 11-1-4 Sol win today against the the 6-5-2 St. Louis Athletica they will host the WPS final Aug. 22.
With five weeks left in the WPS regular season, the Los Angeles Sol have opened up a 17-point lead in the WPS standings. Only the second-place Saint Louis Athletica and third-place Boston Breakers having any mathematical chance at overtaking the Sol in the table.
This sums it up:
Today’s match marks the 10th and final home game of the regular season for the Sol. They have won their last three home games and have a 7-0-2 record at The Home Depot Center. The Sol is the only team in the league to be undefeated at home.
Updated 12:50 a.m.: Sol GM Chalie Naimo just twteted – “looks like we found the player we will add.. stay tuned, she will be a versatile impact player. HUGE opportunity for Sol Weds noon v STL.’
A look at Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, Chivas USA’s Zach Thornton and the Sol’s Karina LeBlanc.
BTW, the Sol can wrap up the WPS regular season title with a win Wednesday over St. Louis in their final regular season home game at noon at Home Depot Center.
Washington Freedom 0 Sol 1
Sol XI: Karina LeBlanc; Stephanie Cox, Brittany Bock, Christie Shaner (Manya Makoski, 52′), Shannon Boxx , Camille Abily, Aya Miyama, Katie Larkin, McCall Zerboni, Han Duan, Marta.
Highlights:
Sol (10-1-4) at Washington Freedom (4-4-4) live at 3 p.m. on Sox Soccer Channel.
Meanwhile, Daily Breeze reporter Gene Maddaus followed up on his report of the crackdown on bacon-wrapped hot dog vendors at Home Depot Center with this update today.
It could happen, although it will take a combination of results from other games this weekend.
Perhaps more interesting is the Sol gamble about the timing of its final regular season game: essentially the club is betting it will draw more kids looking for something to do now school is out at noon on a summer Wednesday after a holiday weekend than fans at a midweek evening game.
What’s being promoted as McDonald’s Kids Day boasts a festival that includes soccer games, a banner making station, a tattoo station, the soccer collies, a juggling contest and something called the Sesame Street Toddler Play Area.
Naturally, there’s a ticket special: tickets start at $15 and include a Marta bobblehead. Visit Ticketmaster for the deal and enter the password “KIDS.”
BTW, the Sol have already become the first WPS to clinch a playoff spot, although that’s not particularly surprising given their league-dominating 10-1-4 record. That’s good for 34 points, almost double the number achieved by the second-place team, the Boston Breakers.
More importantly, the Sol will win the WPS regular season title Wednesday if, well, we’ll let the league explain it:
The magic number for the league title for Los Angeles now sits at nine points over the Boston Breakers, who won Wednesday against Washington, 1-0. Any combination of points earned by Los Angeles and Boston not collecting maximum points in a game would lower that number. A victory by Los Angeles on Sunday against Washington, combined with a loss by Boston at New Jersey would mean that the Sol could wrap up the WPS regular season crown at home on Wednesday against Saint Louis with over a month left in the regular season.
Mathematically, Washington, Saint Louis and Boston could still individually overtake Los Angeles but to do so, Washington would have to defeat Los Angeles in Sunday’s match-up and Saint Louis would need to win at Home Depot Center next week. Boston plays Los Angeles in the final game of the regular season.
The rest of the playoff picture and positions 2, 3 and 4 are still completely up for grabs.
Got it? Whatever. Keep it simple and circle this date on your calendar: Aug. 22. That’s the date of the WPS title game, the Sol are odds-on favorites to be there if/when they win the regular season title and if so it will be in Carson.
In other WPS news:
*I’m guessing this is from the “oops” department – Sol defender Martina Franko is pregnant and unable to finish the season.That forced the Sol Tuesday to acquire defender Christie Shaner from Sky Blue FC as cover. In return, the Sol sent Sky Blue a third round pick in the 2010 WPS draft. Franko, 33, started 10 games for the Sol’s miserly defense; in contrast the 24-year-old Shaner, a Notre Dame product, has appeared in just two games over 40 minutes for Sky Blue FC.
*The Sol’s Marta was named WPS Player of the Week for a second time this season after scoring three goals to lead the Sol to victories over Saint Louis Athletica and Chicago Red Stars; she shares the league lead in goals with eight.
*Sunday’s Sol-Freedom game is live at 3 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel.
*Marta’s former club team, Sweden’s Umea IK, will play against as team of WPS All-Stars in the inaugural all-star game taking place a week after the title game live Aug. 30 on FSC from St. Louis.
Sol 4 Chicago Red Stars 0
Torrance’s Shannon Boxx opened the scoring in the 14th minute, Camile Abily scored the second five minutes later and Marta added the third and fourth goals in the second half.
The 10-1-4 league-leading Sol are undefeated in 10 games; the Red Stars are winless in nine games.
Notable: Marta and Abily are tied for the WPS lead with eight goals apiece.
Quotable:
“It was a big challenge today as it was our third game in seven days, but I thought we played very well,” said Coach Abner Rogers. “Obviously, the result speaks for itself. The number of opportunities that we created was very satisfying.”
Announced attendance: 4,653
Sol Lineup: Karina LeBlanc; Stephanie Cox, Allison Falk, Marina Franko, Katie Larkin, McCall Zerboni (72: Aly Wagner), Shannon Boxx , Camille Abily (80: Maya Makoski), Aya Miyama, Han Duan, Marta.
Next: Sol hosts Saint Louis Athletica at noon Wednesday, July 8.
Worst meets first in the WPS Bagel Bowl at the HDC at 10 a.m. (!) today as the visiting Chicago Red Stars (2-5-5), without a win in eight, meet the league-leading Sol (9-1-4), who are without a loss in nine games.
Motivation for going: every fan gets a free Sol T-shirt.
Motivation for heading to the free Wi-Fi at your local coffee shop: a live Webcast here. Los Angeles Sol Director of Media Relations Nick Ammazzalorso has the call with color commentary provided by Aaron Heifetz, press officer for the United States Women’s National Team.
Meanwhile, if Chicago don’t beat Tigres in a game that kicks off at 5 p.m. it may not be worth going to the Chivas USA-San Luis SuperLiga game that kicks off at 7 p.m. at the HDC (assuming you’re a Chivas fan).
Lastly, it appears many of you believe the U.S. has already made a point to the world regardless of the Confederations Cup finale’s outcome Sunday against Brazil. Agree? Disagree? Vote here.