Washington Freedom win 2-1 over Sky Blue FC, move into final WPS playoff position

Washington Freedom currently sit in the fourth and final position in the 2010 WPS Playoffs tonight after a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Sky Blue FC. Both teams played with ferocity as they battled for the opportunity to extend their season into the playoffs.
 
Freedom took to the field in pink jerseys provided by WPS league sponsor PUMA® in support of Project Pink. Many of the 3,143 fans in attendance wore pink to show their support as well. Project Pink, which is in conjunction with PUMA\'s partnership with the WPS, strives to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer.
 
First half action picked up in the 23rd minute when Freedom\'s Sonia Bompastor sent a defense-splitting kick to Abby Wambach, who chested the ball down in front of the goal, but was not able to score before Sky Blue FC\'s defense made a stop. Play switched sides of the field, and in the 30th minute, Sky Blue FC forward Tasha Kai took advantage of a turnover and chipped a shot over Freedom goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, making the game 1-0 in favor of Sky Blue FC.
 
Freedom had several scoring attempts toward the end of the second half with tough saves made by Sky Blue FC substitute goalkeeper Meghann Burke, who was brought in following a 32nd minute injury to starting goalkeeper Jenni Branam.
 
In the 34th minute Wambach sent a shot from the left corner high and wide. In the 40th minute, Freedom defender Becca Moros beat Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Burke with a header that went just wide. Freedom were able to maintain some possession in the Sky Blue FC half, but were limited to just two shots on goal in the first half.
 
Freedom started the second half off strong with a cross by Sarah Huffman to Wambach, whose header was pushed over the crossbar by Burke in the 48th minute of play, followed by a short Freedom corner kick that went out for a second corner, which was cleared by a Sky Blue FC header.
 
In the 50th minute, Freedom earned another corner kick after a long free kick was knocked out by Burke. Both teams continued the half with fervor with collisions and intense play on both ends of the field.
 
In the 75th minute, Wambach had a strong shot on goal which was impressively saved by Burke followed by a corner kick that was battled around in the box resulting in a penalty kick for Freedom when Burke took down Wambach.  Wambach took her time, mentally setting up for the penalty kick, which paid off as she shot the ball into the upper left hand corner of the goal for an even score.
 
Sky Blue FC answered with a long free kick by Yael Averbuch, which bounced dangerously past the far post and out for a goal kick.  Wambach gave the Freedom the lead for good in the 84th minute, receiving a through ball from Allie Long and banking the shot off the post and into the goal.
 
In stoppage time, Huffman had a chance to finish the game off, but Burke made a great one-on-one save. With the win, Freedom move three points ahead of Sky Blue FC for the fourth and final playoff spot. Sky Blue FC has three matches left, however, while Freedom have two.
 
Sky Blue FC (7-10-4) host FC Gold Pride on Wednesday, September 1 at 7 p.m while Freedom (7-8-7) travel to play the Chicago Red Stars next Sunday, September 5 at 6 p.m ET. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel.
 
Freedom will conclude the regular season when they host the Atlanta Beat on Saturday, September 11 at 7 p.m.
 
 
WASHINGTON FREEDOM VS. SKY BLUE FC GAME QUOTES
 
Abby Wambach, Washington Freedom Forward
"Whoever was going to win this game was going to have the upper hand in the push for the playoffs.
 
"I have so much respect for so many of the players and I think that we came back shows what our season has been like. We persevered and I am so proud of us.
 
"We need to win. That is the name of the game at this point. The more times we can get points, the better.
 
"I think that the lull we went through in the middle of the season and the hardship that. I think we\'ve really come out better on the other side. I think we\'re a better team. We actually have belief.
 
"I think the fact that we can now overcome goal deficits is a big deal. I think that we had to prove to ourselves the belief that we are a winning team. We didn\'t have that belief that we could pull it out.
 
"We would give up late goals, stupid mistakes, and chances. I think now that we have gone through that and had that turmoil, Emma has come on and done a fantastic job  Jim has responded to everything so well. Everything has come together so well like a perfect storm. I think that we could do some damage toward the end of the season.
 
"Becca [Moros] said to me \'Get one for me,\' and I said \'I am not going to get you one, I am going to get you two.
 
"It\'s an exciting time for this team, because it\'s in our hands."
 
 
Allie Long, Washington Freedom Midfielder
"I could cry, I\'m so happy.
 
"The past few games we have been coming out kind of slow, and I feel like the second half we were a different team.
 
"We are 100 percent capable and our coach gave us such a great speech at half time that really got us going. We knew how much we had to win.
 
"When they scored, it was kind of like a wake up call. We didn\'t necessarily need a wake up call, but getting one unexpectedly helped us. Once we were a little under pressure how we needed to score changed our attitude and half time we figured it out."
 
 
Cat Whitehill, Washington Freedom Defender
"It was a relief.  We are tired of giving up leads.
 
"Abby did an incredible job today scoring two goals, and I\'m very happy.
 
"It is a huge credit to Ashlyn. She stepped up when Erin McLeod went on. She and I read off of each other very well. We have a sixth sense and it has been great."
 
 
Becca Moros, Washington Freedom Defender
"I think Sawa made a huge difference. As the half went on, Sawa was involved in a huge number of attacks going forward. She is very calm on the ball and I think she really settled things down for us."
 
 
Jim Gabarra, Washington Freedom Head Coach
"We made a lot of tactical changes in the second half and all the players on the field really adapted well.
 
"We have to keep the train rolling. We have to get points all the way through.  We are looking up and trying to catch the people ahead of us."
 
 
Sarah Huffman, Washington Freedom Midfielder
"I think that we are just wanting to keep building momentum hopefully making the playoffs. Each game is almost a playoff game and I think that\'s a good way to go into it so you\'re not complacent."
 
 
Tasha Kai, Sky Blue FC Forward
 
"We came out fighting.  We got one in and they did a good job of responding.  We had our chances and they had theirs, but two of their chances made it in.
 
"We are going to learn from today. We need to have a little bit more edge and a little bit more fire. We know how important the end of the season is."