The Carolina Courage continued their mastery of Atlanta and the Philadelphia Charge used an own goal to pull away from Boston, both winning their WUSA home openers Saturday to improve to 3-0. Carolina got a 72nd-minute header from Tiffany Roberts to overcome the Beat, 1-0, before 5,420 on a cold, rainy afternoon at SAS Stadium. Marinette Pichon scored one goal and assisted on another and Philadelphia took charge on a Michaela Rooney own goal early in the second half to beat the Breakers, 4-2, in front of 6,629 at Villanova Stadium. The teams opened a five-point lead atop the WUSA standings with two matches — San Jose at New York, Washington at San Diego — on tap Sunday. Details on Saturday's matches: Carolina 1 Atlanta 0: The Courage, last year's last-place team, improved to 3-0-1 lifetime against the struggling Beat (1-3-0, 3 points), which has been outscored, 6-2, through the first four weeks of the season. It was an even battle until the second half, when tactical maneuvers by Carolina coach Marcia McDermott enabled the Courage to take charge. She brought on rookie Katie Barnes at halftime for Kim Yankowski and placed her on the left side of the front line, moving Norwegian Unni Lehn to the right. Lehn, bottled up by an exceptional Kylie Bivens throughout the first half, became involved in the Courage attack, and the speedy Barnes continually created havoc deep in Atlanta territory. The goal arrived from a 40-second sequence, containing three Carolina forays, following a corner kick from the left. The finish came off rookie Danielle Slaton's first-time blast from a back pass by Hege Riise. Slaton's shot, from 30 yards, deflected off Beat midfielder Nikki Serlenga and to the left of the Beat net. Riise ran it down, sending a cross from just beyond the edge of the box, and Roberts' near-post header from four yards eluded defender Nancy Augustyniak on the right side of the goal. The goal was the first in Roberts' WUSA career. Philadelphia 4 Boston 2: Boston defender Rooney — a “reserve” player pressed into action by injury — headed a Mandy Clemens cross intended for Kelly Smith into her own net in the 52nd minute, breaking a 2-2 tie, and Clemens scored from a Pichon cross in the 82nd to ice the Charge victory. Maren Meinert scored her league-best third goal and Kristine Lilly added a goal and an assist for the Breakers (1-2-1, 4 points). Margaret Tietjen's stoppage-time goal evened the score just before halftime, and French striker Pichon got behind Boston's defense for a 2-1 lead three minutes into the second half, after Liu Ailing dispossessed Angela Hucles. SUMMARIES May 4 at Cary, N.C. Carolina 1 Atlanta 0. Goal: T. Roberts (Riise) 72. Carolina — Luckenbill; S. Burt, Baxter, Wilson, Slaton; T. Roberts, Fettig, Riise; Yankowski (Barnes, 46; O'Hanley, 89), Fotopoulos, Lehn. Atlanta — Scurry; Bivens, Nonen, J. Augustyniak (N. Augustyniak, 67), Smith; Miller, Serlenga; Wang (Cagle, 79), Sawa; Sun (Hooper, 46), E. Burt (Parlow, 64). Yellow cards — Carolina: Wilson 83; Atlanta: Bivens 13, Parlow 70, Serlenga 90. Referee — Misail Tsapos. A — 5,420. May 4 at Villanova, Pa. Philadelphia 4 Boston 2. Tietjen (Benson, Mitts) 46+, Pichon (Liu) 48, own goal Rooney 52, Clemens (Pichon) 82; Meinert (Lilly) 20, Lilly 51. Philadelphia — Moore; Mitts, Iverson, Tietjen, Benson; Fair, Monroe (Connors, 40), Liu; Smith, Clemens, Pichon. Boston — LeBlanc; Gonzalez (Aldama, 60), McCann, Rooney (Borisjuk, 83), Kluegel; Hucles (Kemp, 71), Lilly, Wiegmann; Yohe (Dacey, 46), Meinert, Mellgren. Yellow cards — None. Referee — Faith Rossi. A — 6,629.