Prediction
Here is Soccer America Associate Editor Dean Caparaz’s prediction for the May 31 game: Washington 3 Philadelphia 2
Preview
(all times ET) Thursday, May 31 – (7:05 pm) – Philadelphia (3-1-2, tied for 2nd place, 11 pts) at Washington (3-1-2, tied for 2nd place, 11 pts) (CN8, Comcast SportsNet). Season series: First meeting;
All-time regular-season series: First meeting.
Leading scorers: Philadelphia: M Liu Ailing (2 g = 4 pts); Washington: F Pretinha (4 g, 1 a = 9 pts).
Did you know? Washington defeated Philadelphia, 3-1, on March 28 in Spring Training. M Amanda Cromwell, M Monica Gerardo, and F Roseli, who had the winner, scored for the Freedom. F Rakel Karvelsson tallied the Charge’s lone goal.
Key players out: Philadelphia: D Erica Iverson (stress fracture foot-R), G Melissa Moore (broken hand-R), F Kelly Smith (stress fracture ankle-R); Washington: None.
Notes: Philadelphia’s Smith may be back in the lineup for next week’s game against Carolina. In the meantime, the Freedom is healthy; Philly is not. … Disturbing trends for the Charge: Washington has scored a goal in the first 10 minutes of each of its last two games, while Philly has allowed a goal in the second minute of each of its last two games. … Both clubs scored late game-winning goals set up by corner kicks last week. Charge midfielder Laurie Schwoy headed in the winner against Boston off of a Michelle Demko corner kick, while Bai Jie scored against New York during a goalmouth scramble after a Freedom corner. … This is the first Freedom home game that is not a big event game, such as the April 14 league opener and the May 12 doubleheader with D.C. United. It will be interesting to see if Washington can continue to draw large crowds. … This is the first of a home and home series. Philly’s Villanova Stadium hosts the following match on Sunday. The two clubs meet for the third and final time in the regular season on July 26.
KEY MATCHUP: Philadelphia M Liu Ailing vs. Washington M Mia Hamm: This is a battle of two of the best players in the world over the last decade. Hamm, who has been the playmaker for Coach Jim Gabarra the last few games, set up both of the Freedom’s goals in the win over New York, while Liu scored her first points of the season with two goals against Boston.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Rachel Woo; Assistant Referees: Paul Tamberino (SAR), Steven Taylor (JAR); Fourth Official: Kenneth Kaplan.
