Meredith Beard, a “reserve” player called into action because of injuries, netted the winning goal in the 82nd minute as the Washington Freedom bounced back from a lopsided loss on opening weekend to overcome defending champion San Jose, 2-1, Sunday before 4,713 on a rainy afternoon at RFK Stadium. Beard, a 76th-minute substitution for Jacqui Little, knocked home a short feed from rookie Abby Wambach after a Bai Jie through ball to complete a Freedom comeback and even both teams’ records at 1-1-0. Michelle French fired the CyberRays ahead in the 14th minute, becoming the first WUSA player to score against a former club. The defender, acquired in December from Washington, booted in a clearance from just beyond the box, curling it into the right-side netting beyond goalkeeper Dawn Greathouse’s reach. Jacqui Little, a former CyberRays forward who went to the Freedom in the Pretinha trade last November, tied the score in the 49th. San Jose goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene stopped Pu Wei at the left post, but the Chinese forward sent the rebound across the goalmouth to Little, who fired it back across and into the net. Wambach, who touched Pu’s cross in a crowd in front of the goal, also received an assist. She has three assists in two matches. The Freedom, without five players in last week’s 4-1 loss to New York, controlled play in the second half after the CyberRays provided near constant pressure the first 45 minutes. Defender Skylar Little — Jacqui’s twin — was back in the Freedom lineup after missing the opener because of a red-card suspension, but Coach Jim Gabarra remained without the services of forward Mia Hamm (knee), defender Casey Zimny (recuperation from surgery) and goalkeeper Siri Mullinix (shoulder). Goalkeeper Erin Fahey, Greathouse’s backup the first two matches, is still hampered by a hip flexor injury; midfielder Monica Gerardo, who scored against the Power, was out with a hamstring pull; and German defender Steffi Jones isn’t expected to arrive until late May. San Jose playmaker Sissi departed in the 50th minute after spraining an ankle in an 18th-minute collision with Lindsay Stoecker. Total attendance for the second weekend of WUSA games was 16,234, an average of 5,411. Total attendance through seven matches is 45,727, an average of 6,532. The league’s stated goal is to average 8,500 per match this season. SUMMARIES April 21 in Washington, D.C. Washington 2 San Jose 1. Goals: J. Little (Wambach, Pu) 49, Beard (Wambach, Bai) 82; French 14. Washington — Greathouse; S. Little, Grubb, Moore, Barr; Stoecker, Makinen, Pu (Cook 80); J. Little (Beard 76), Wambach, Milburn (Bai 32; Rigamat 90). San Jose — Beene; Borgman, Bryan, Lindsey, French; Dorn, Venturini-Hoch (Clark 60), Sissi (Alagich 50); Katia, Chastain, Pretinha (Hendershot-Brown 77). Yellow cards — Washington, Grubb 30, S. Little 40, Moore 66; San Jose, Bryan 67. Referee — Terry Vaughn. A — 4,713. April 20 in San Diego San Diego 6 New York 1. Goals: Zhang (Foudy, Mascaro) 3, MacMillan (Zhang, Fawcett) 17, MacMillan (Mascaro) 40, Zhang (MacMillan, Boxx) 47, own goal Tracy 69, Lindsey (Akide) 80; Janss 82. San Diego — Pagliarulo (Smolak 80); Tanaka, Fawcett, Fan (Pickup 65), Sauer; Boxx, Foudy (Lindsey 46), Mascaro; Zhang, Rohbock (Akide 70), Shannon MacMillan (Kester 80). New York — Webber; Pearce, Tracy, Whelchel, Pearman; Fair (McIntosh 70), Rapp (Stauffer 72), Lalor, Ormen (Hoffman 72); Milbrett, Mustonen (Janss 46). Yellow cards — San Diego, Sauer 11, Zhang 19. Referee — Sandra Hunt. A — 5,216. April 20 in Boston Boston 3 Atlanta 1. Goals: Mellgren (McCann) 10, Hucles (Yohe) 35, Lilly (Hucles, Meinert) 50; Wang 51. Boston — LeBlanc; Kluegel, Gonzalez, McCann, Rooney; Hucles, Raygor, Lilly (Wiegmann 79); Yohe (Dacey 67), Mellgren, Meinert. Atlanta — Scurry; Bivens, Smith (Krzykowski 65), Nonen, Wang; Serlenga (J. Augustyniak 62), Miller, Sawa; Cagle (Burt 71), Hooper, Parlow. Yellow cards — Boston, Gonzalez 59. Atlanta, Serlenga 17, Bivens 75. Referee — Arnold Baldeaux. A — 6,305.