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Last night, WPS saw a pair of 2-0 results and a pair of braces as the WNY Flash blanked the Atlanta Beat (visit Chris’ live blog before) and magicJack clinched a playoff spot against the Boston Breakers. 7,188 were on hand at Harvard Stadium – the second-highest attendance in franchise history.

Despite the surge in attendance, the Breakers’ form continues to tail off. Since the team’s five-match unbeaten run this summer, Boston has proceeded to lose four games on the trot with just one goal scored in that time. The team’s playoffs chances remain slim as they must hope Philadelphia defeat Sky Blue FC tonight (a reasonable possibility, for sure).

Boston would then have to defeat Sky Blue FC by at least one, if not two clear goals next weekend. Both teams would be even on head to head results, and head to head goal differential would be the next regular season tiebreaker.

magicJack, meanwhile, collected their third consecutive win thanks to a brace from player-coach Abby Wambach. Breakers boss Tony DiCicco commented on how trying to stop Abby is practically useless. ”…Right now, it’s almost impossible to mark Abby Wambach,” he said, ”She’s just on another level. We saw it in the World Cup, and we’re seeing it in the league, and these are good defenders.”

She has now scored five goals in her past three games, which seems to be true to form. Wambach has gone on an absolute goal-scoring tear at the closing stage of each previous WPS regular season: last year she scored nine goals in the Freedom’s last nine games and in 2009 she netted five goals in their final four matches.

Megan Rapinoe has also come into form recently. She provided one assist last night and has now had either a goal or an assist in each of her previous three appearances.

To continue with that theme, Marta is another player that’s seemingly clicked into rhythm. Marta’s duet of goals helped the Flash cruise past a beleaguered Beat side. The Brazilian star has recorded either a goal or an assist in each of her last five games.

The Beat will close out what has been an utterly abject season next weekend. The Beat are locked in last on seven points. The team hasn’t earned a point since July 23 and hasn’t scored a goal since June 11. Considering their final opponent will be the Flash, it may very well remain that way.

Tonight the Philadelphia Independence are set to host Sky Blue FC. Sky Blue could clinch a playoff spot with a win or draw (and actually make next weekend relevant). It could mark the first time the New Jersey side returns to the postseason since their championship-winning spell in 2009.

Sky Blue are on a bit of a skid, however, and look to avoid a third straight defeat. Three of Sky Blue’s last five games have been losses while four of Philadelphia’s last five matches have been victories. The Independence could reclaim first place with a win tonight.

The teams have met each other twice before this season, each with opposite results. First there was that wild 4-3 match in which Tasha Kai scored a hat-trick and Laura del Rio’s late goal helped seal victory for the Independence. Then on July 23, Casey Noguiera’s brace earned Sky Blue a 2-0 victory.

Things don’t bode well for Sky Blue FC if Vero plays. The Independence are a staggering 8-0-1 when the Spanish international sees action. Fresh off a third Player of the Week award, the 24-year-old has had a total of five goals, three of them game-winners, and four assists. M…V…P…

Philadelphia’s central midfielder Sinead Farrelly – an outside candidate for Rookie of the Year – will miss the match while Sky Blue’s oft-overlooked defender/midfielder Anita Asante has been listed as questionable.

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