Independence, Rodriguez handle Red Stars 3-0
by WPS - Staff Report
07/28/2010 - 05:58 p.m.
Amy Rodriguez added two goals and an assist to her statistics during the 3-0 rout of Chicago on Wednesday night.
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WEST CHESTER, Pa. (July 28, 2010) -- It was the first time this season the Chicago Red Stars (4-8-5) would travel to John A. Farrell Stadium to take on the Philadelphia Independence (8-5-3), and they would leave with an unpleasant memory. Amy Rodriguez led the Independence to a 3-0 shutout of the Red Stars on Wednesday evening. Rodriguez scored twice to inch closer to the league lead and assisted on Philadelphia’s third goal.
The potent offense of Philadelphia got on the board in the 12th minute when Lori Lindsey intercepted a bad clearance from Chicago. She passed the ball ahead to Rodriguez on the left side who found the back of the net for the 10th time this season.
Rodriguez would add her 11th goal of the season in the 27th minute of the match. Nikki Krzysik cleared the ball past Chicago's back line to Rodriguez who put the ball in the back of the net for the second score of the game.
"She’s been playing brilliantly and I think she was sensational again," said Independence Head Coach Paul Riley. "There are very few game-changers in WPS, and she’s proven herself to be one of those players."
However, Chicago quickly tried to turn the tide of the match as they rushed forward just a minute later with a scoring attempt of their own. Midfielder Karen Carney launched a shot that deflected off of the crossbar to prevent a Chicago score.
The score would remain 2-0 until after halftime when Rodriguez would once again be in on the scoring play, but this time she would be assisting reigning WPS Player of the Week Caroline Seger. Rodriguez found Seger in the box to put the ball past Red Stars ‘keeper Jillian Loyden to make the scoreline 3-0.
In the final minute of the game Holmfridur Magnusdottir was red carded for a dangerous tackle, but the Independence defense held on to the shutout. This was the first Philadelphia shutout since May 15.
"We’ve been talking about defense all week long, talking about playing a full 90 minutes and getting the shutout," said Riley. "I thought our back line was fantastic tonight. Nikki (Krzysik) and (Allison) Falk have great chemistry, and I think both Nikki and Estelle Johnson had their best games of the season."
After the game, Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi had no excuses for the loss to Philadelphia noting that they were simply the better team on this day. "I told my team at the end of the game, sometimes you just have to take your hat off and tip it to the better team,” he said. “We lost to the better team tonight, they deserved it."
The Chicago Red Stars will take to the pitch again this Sunday at 7pm ET against Sky Blue FC in Piscataway, N.J. at Yurcak Field.
Rodriguez and the Philadelphia Independence have this weekend off and will travel to Boyds, Md. to do battle with Abby Wambach and the Washington Freedom next Wednesday, August 4, at 7:30pm ET.
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