The Red Card is a new feature on the site. It will be posted every Monday morning by our resident crumudgeon Kristi. The post will quickly highlight each WPS match of the weekend as well as name and shame some of the match’s most flagrant offenders.

The 2010 WPS season opened with a bang Saturday April 10, 2010, with the Washington Freedom hosting Boston’s Breakers with a crowd of nearly 4,000 spectators on hand at the Maryland Soccerplex. “Defend Your Turf” has become a new slogan in the WPS, and Washington did everything BUT that, losing the opener 2-1. Lauren Cheney and Kelly Smith have, in the first week at least, shown they are a match made in heaven. Each scored goals for the Breakers, picking up where they left off for their respective national teams. Washington’s lone goal came from someone whose name eludes me right now, as it was not DeVanna, Wambach, Sawa, Moros or Bompastor. Oh, well.

Sunday brought the other six teams together in three matches: Expansion teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence played to a 0-0 draw, which can be expected. The two newest teams are truly untested but had stellar pre-seasons, whether going almost undefeated or getting the cream of the crop in the L.A. Sol dispersal draft. I think we can safely say they will bring much entertainment to the legions of WPS fans, no matter what.

Saint Louis, who acquired Shannon Boxx and Aya Miyama from the L.A. dispersal, hosted FC Gold Pride, which garnered the two top scorers of the 2009 maiden season of WPS, Marta and Camille Abily. Saint Louis proved they are a force to be reckoned with, and beat Gold Pride into submission off two goals from the Athletica’s 2009 top scorer Eniola Aluko. Is Aluko poised to be the best striker this season? Hell yes, she is. After a breakout season for StL in 2009, then transferring that scoring prowess to the 2009 European Championships, “Eni” has arrived. If there is a team that thinks they are NOT afraid of the Athletica, well, it’s your funeral. I’ll send flowers.
The match Fox Soccer Channel chose to broadcast probably was the most boring of the three Sunday matches. Sky Blue hosted Chicago Stars, and, like no one doubted, the Jersey Girls kept their unbeaten streak against Chicago going, winning the match 1-0. That’s right…one goal scored the ENTIRE 90 minutes. You are probably reading this and saying, ‘But, Hotlanta and Philly drew 0-0!’ Of course, they did!!! They are NEW teams, so we will give them the one or two game curve. But NJ and Chicago are forming the new derby; one team is called the “Red Stars”, which derives from the flag of the city. The other has the coveted “gold star” (which means CHAMPIONSHIP, in case you have been under a rock) over their team badge. Sky Blue is also the only team Chicago had no success what-so-ever against, unless you consider one draw from four games (the other three were losses for the Red Stars) successful. I, for one, wouldn’t.

Sky Blue hosted this match with two of their starting defensive back line out. Christie Rampone…new baby. Anita Asante…knee. OK, we have that out of the way. New coach Pauliina Miettinen knew what she was doing when she signed Daphne Koster. Homegirl was a beast, and not afraid to challenge for the ball. I respect that, so props to Koster. But if we’re gonna talk defense, we HAVE to welcome back Kate Markgraf for the Red Stars. She hasn’t lost a step from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and as a USWNT fan, I’m glad as hell for that. (Pia wants to deliver a World Cup back to the USA…Markgraf needs to be at her disposal). The only goal was from Tasha “TK” Kai in the 6th minute, and it was a cheeky, smart one at that. She caught Chicago ‘Keeper Jill Loyden off guard when Chicago was unable to cleanly clear the ball, Sky Blue and USWNT mainstay Heather O’Reilly fed it back to Kai, who effortlessly put it in for goal.

Chicago had what seemed a thousand chances, but no goals to show, including the better part of 15 corner kicks (compared to SBFC’s 2). One of Chicago’s bright spots was the English international Katie Chapman. She was pretty much anywhere the ball was, and like the fore-mentioned Daphne Koster, deserves props. She also nearly tied the game with a shot that barely missed the goalmouth, skimming the outside netting.

Now for the part that will keep me out of Chicago for the rest of my life: Is “Cristiane” Portuguese for lazy and selfish? After the effort I saw from the Brazilian, I sure as hell am beginning to think so. In no way did Cristiane truly give much towards a team effort, unlike English international Karen Carney (who is still recovering from an injury), Chapman, Markgraf, Swedish import Kosovare Allsani or spit-fire Ella Masar. As a fan of the game, I was disgusted at her lack of enthusiasm, and wouldn’t care if she didn’t play another minute for Chicago coach Emma Hayes. Bring on Formiga…at least she tries!!

My column is called “The Red Card” for a reason, and I award them like the Razzies; if you suck, you get carded. Plain and simple, huh? And without further ado…the first (and unfortunately not the last) of my Red Cards:

1.) Cristiane, Striker, Chicago Red Stars: played against Sky Blue like she has never played soccer before…Hello? This is a professional league calling…Can you step it up a bit so you can actually EARN the FIFA World Player of the Year nomination? Thanks!

2.) Karen Bardsley, Goalkeeper, Sky Blue FC: interferred with Karen Carney’s play on the ball, and got away with footie murder, so to speak, since Carney wasn’t awarded a penalty. Idle hands…

3.) Albertin Montoya, Head Coach, FC Gold Pride: What the hell…I thought you were supposed to, you know, turn it around this year?? “Worst to First”, or whatever?? Where’s Eriko Arakawa when you need her…

4.) Abby Wambach, Lisa DeVanna, Rebecca Moros, Homare Sawa and Sonia Bompastor, Strikers and Midfielders, Washington Freedom: ONE goal, and it was from NONE of you?? I need Calgon…

5.) That Unkel Dude, Referee: Are you crazy to have not rewarded Carney the penalty??? Big deal if Bard was making a play to the ball!! She was also keeping Kaz from doing the same!! Don’t you have a rule book?? Somebody get Sepp on the phone!!

By Kristi

View Original Post at allwhitekit.wordpress.com

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This post is related to the following ongoing stories:

• 2010 WPS Season Kickoff