Aussie's Abroad Football Wrap
Sally Shipard. Photo: Joseph Mayers
Aussie's Abroad 22-28 May 2012 Football Wrap
22-28 May update of all our overseas soccer playing women from Ann Odong at The Women's Game.
There were some big losses, big wins and an injury scare for the Aussies Abroad (and an honorary Aussie) in the last week of northern hemisphere football. Here is your look from 22 – 28 May 2012.
Lisa De Vanna's Linköping suffered only their second, and by far heaviest, loss of the season as they were thumped 6 – 0 by Göteborg FC last Tuesday. Led by American striker Christien Press (who notched up a hat-trick), Göteborg commenced the scoring in the 5th minute and never let up the pressure.
De Vanna was a second half substitute (67th minute) and was lively for Linköping with a couple of goalscoring opportunities late. First firing just over the bar in the 80th minute and then in stoppage time where good defending denied her team once again.
22 May 2012 - Match Report – Göteborg v Linköping [Google translated]
Tameka Butt and Kyah Simon both featured prominently in the Boston Breakers 2 – 1 win over New York Fury to take them to the top of the WPSL Elite ladder.
The Breakers opened the scoring in the 19th minute with Katie Schoepfer latching onto a Simon ball before scoring. Less than 10 minutes later Butt added scored her second goal in as many games to give Boston a 2 – 0 lead. In a dampener on the evening, the forward was substituted in the 35th minute with was later diagnosed as an ankle sprain. Fury pulled one back but Boston held on for the win. Simon played the full 90 minutes.
23 May 2012 – Match Report – New York Fury v Boston Breakers
A second half Katrina Gorry strike was enough to seal a 1 – 0 victory for the Ottawa Fury Women over the Rochester Ravens in their opening match of the USL W-League season.
As she has been in the lead up matches, Gorry was instrumental throughout the 90 minutes and started with registering the Fury's first chance of the match only to be denied by the goalkeeper. A trademark run in the 59th minute opened up the Ravens' defence with the Melbourne Victory star taking advantage with a wonderful 30 yard goal.
26 May 2012: Match Report – Rochester Ravens v Ottawa Fury
Unfortunately the Fury were unable to back up that performance two days later when they were defeated 2 – 0 by Hamilton FC Rage. For Ottawa it was their first regular season defeat since July 4, 2010 ending a 17-game unbeaten streak.
28 May 2012: Match Report – Hamilton FC v Ottawa Fury
A 3 – 2 win over the Western New York Flash has seen the Boston Breakers have had their best start in their history. Courtesy of a Kate Schoepfer hat-trick, the win saw the Breakers go 4 – 0 and maintain top sport on the WPSL Elite table.
Tameka Butt was rested for the match as a precaution, however, Kyah Simon again started and added another two assists to the 3 goals this campaign.
The Breakers didn't have it all their way with the Flash dominating early proceedings. Emily Van Egmond, who managed 62 minutes before being subbed, was in the thick of the action as were McCall Zerboni and Adriana. The latter two proved difficult to contain, as they would all match, and it took some good goalkeeping with Alice Binns to keep them out. 20 minutes in Simon almost broke the deadlock as she went close to turning in a Cat Whitehill free kick only for the WNY backline to clear. Schoepfer opened the scoring in the 33rd minute to give the Breakers a surprise 1 – 0 half time lead.
Angela Salem tied the match up just after the restart before Simon was tripped in the box to earn a penalty with Schoepfer dispatched. That combination worked again minutes later with the same result for the Breakers. An Adriana goal in the 82nd saw the Fury threatened to nab a point but the Breakers held on.
26 May 2012: Match Report – Boston Breakers v Western New York Fury
Meanwhile in the Western Conference Brooke Spence started and played 90 minutes in the Colorado Rapid's 3 – 0 win over the Victoria Highlanders.
26 May 2012: Match Report – Colorado Rapids v Victoria Highlanders
Aivi Luik and Michelle Heyman's Brøndby blew their chance to take a strangle hold on first place in the Danish Championship playoffs with a 1 – 1 draw with Skovbakken.
Fortuna Hjørring took full advantage of the slip up as they closed on the gap on Brøndby to 1 point with a hard fought 3 – 2 win over BSF. Leena Khamis opened the scoring in the 28th minute when some sloppy BSF passing saw the Sydney FC striker in behind the defence. Rounding the 'keeper, Khamis slotted home into an open net.
Former Sydney FC teammate Lydia Vandenbergh slotted the second to make it 2 – 0 but despite having several chances, and Khamis had a handful of them, Fortuna weren’t able to extend their lead. They paid for it late with some nervy defending allowing BSF into the match but they were able to hold on the for the much needed 3 points.
26 May 2012: Match Report – Fortuna Hjørring v BSF [Google translated]
In the Swedish first division, Marijana Rajcic's Gustafs fell 0 – 1 to Rågsved while Carys Hawkins Umeå Södra also suffered defeat to the same scoreline as they went down to Kvarnsveden. It was happier news for Leah Blayney's Eskilstuna United as they had a big 5 – 0 win over Linköping Kenty.
Last week we mentioned that Bayer Leverkusen were just one point off safety, well this week top flight status for Sally Shipard's side was assured. With Hamburg pulling out of the competition next year, Leverkusen needed just a point, and a loss for rivals Leipzig to remain in the Frauen Bundesliga.
Leverkusen managed a 0 – 0 draw with Bad Neuenahr and, with the champions Turbine Potsdam defeating Leipzig 8 – 0, it was enough to give Leverkusen another year in the top division. Congratulations Sally!
27 May 2012: Match Report – Bayer Leverkusen v Bad Neuenahr [Google translated]
Also in other news, Melbourne Victory captain Jodie Taylor and her Birmingham City Ladies team have taken out the 2012 FA Women's Cup with a nail biting 3 – 2 penalties win over Chelsea Ladies.
In a tense match, Birmingham twice came from behind late to first send the match into extra time and then onto penalties. Taylor had a great match earning herself the Sky Sports Player of the Match honours.
She may not be Australian by birth or passport, but after two years with Melbourne Victory in the W-League, we are definitely claiming her!
Congratulations Jodie.
26 May 2012: Match Report – Birmingham City Ladies v Chelsea Ladies
This post originally appeard on The Women's Game.
