Siri Mullinix and the Freedom were unable to stop the Philadelphia Charge Thursday night. - Tony Quinn

Washington, D.C., July 26, 2001 -– The defensive woes continued for the Washington Freedom as the Philadelphia Charge took advantage of errant plays by Washington defenders to win 2-0, increasing their lead over the Freedom for the fourth and final playoff spot.

In the waning moments of the first half, Mandy Clemens sent a lob pass from 40 yards out to the left side of the penalty box. The Freedom’s four defenders were trying to set an off-side trap for Kelly Smith, but failed to take into account Michelle Demko, who came racing in from the midfield to take the pass and chip it over Washington goalkeeper Siri Mullinix and into an empty net in the 44th minute.

Washington defender Amanda Cromwell could only watch as the play developed.

“We were looking at Smith and thinking, ‘Oh, she must be offside.’” Cromwell said. “Then Demko came out of the midfield with a well-timed run. We gotta stop that run. Either Bai Jie or our defense has to drop back (when that happens).”

With the Charge up by one at the half the Freedom pushed players forward in the second half, creating numerous chances for Pretinha and others.

Mia Hamm sent a curving free-kick from 30 yards out to the left post, but Philadelphia goalkeeper Melissa Moore smothered the ball in the 49th minute. Pretinha then failed to reach a cross to the right post by inches in the 51st minute.

The Brazilian forward had numerous scoring opportunities throughout the evening, with her best chance coming in the 61st minute when she collected a ball that was misplayed by Charge defender Kalli Kamholz and had a breakaway with Moore but her curling shot from 10 yards went far right. Pretinha, a well-renowned goal-scorer, has not scored in her last nine games and was replaced by Tracey Milburn after 74 minutes of ineffective play.

“When you miss a chance to score on easy chances, obviously it’s disappointing,” said Washington midfielder Jen Grubb. “But at the same time we have to take a little more responsibility elsewhere. The midfield and defense has to push up and get the ball to our forwards and create more chances. It will continue to be disappointing unless we make these changes.”

Playing in a hotly contested battle under soggy, rainy conditions against the Charge, Washington could not manage better scoring opportunities. With the Freedom midfielders and defenders pushing forward, Philadelphia took advantage in the 78th minute. Rakel Karvelsson sent a header to second half substitute Deidre Enos, who took the ball off a high bounce past Lindsey Stoecker, leaving the Freedom defender on the ground. Enos sent a breakaway shot past Mullinix to the right corner to put the game away, sending many of the 6,794 in attendance at RFK home early.

“Enos has tremendous pace,” said Freedom coach Jim Gabarra. “That’s why they put her in there and it worked out for them. The ball took a weird bounce, but Enos did well to pressure Stoecker, who didn’t get a good touch on the ball, and all of a sudden she’s off and running. That’s what happens when you push players forward, you get one versus one situations.”

The Freedom (6-9-2, 20 points) have now lost seven of their last nine matches with four matches to play in the next 15 days. Philadelphia (7-6-3, 24 points) have now put themselves in a better position to earn the final playoff berth and are now within two points of third-placed New York (7-5-5) in the WUSA standings. Washington plays its next two on the road at Boston and San Diego.

Scoring Summary
PHL - Michelle Demko (Mandy Clemens), 44th minute.
PHL - Deidre Enos (Rakel Karvelsson), 78.

Lineups
Charge: Melissa Moore, Heather Mitts, Kalli Kamholz (Laurie Schwoy 63rd), Doris Fitschen, Jenny Benson, Michelle Demko (Margret Olafsdottir 85th), Lorrie Fair, Kelly Smith (Rebekah McDowell 55th), Liu Ailing, Rakel Karvelsson, Mandy Clemens (Deidre Enos 69th).

Freedom: Siri Mullinix, Amanda Cromwell, Lindsay Stoecker, Skylar Little (Carrie Moore 46th), Michelle French, Jennifer Grubb, Bai Jie, Justi Baumgardt (Krista Davey 82nd), Anne Makinen (Monica Gerardo 59th), Pretinha (Tracey Milburn 74th), Mia Hamm.

NOTE: Emmy Barr did not start due to calf strain injury.

© womenssoccer.com 2001