First Impressions -- L.A. Sol 2 : 0 Washington Freedom

Published March 30, 2009 at 12:59 p.m.

Okay, yes, I do plan on writing about the Freedom whenever I have a chance to observe their games...And let's set the ground rules on how covering women's soccer will be different than covering men's soccer -- there will be some differences based on media coverage and availability (Debriefings may not happen for that reason), but I intend to evaluate Freedom games with the same eye I use for United games...Which brings us to last night's FSC debut...It was bad.

Let me rephrase...The quality of soccer issue is a canard, the question is whether the games are enjoyable (they seem to be) and whether the Freedom look smart...The answer is that Abby Wambach should prepare herself for a long season...The Freedom midfield provided the quality of service associated with a Best Buy Extended Warranty. Brianna Scurry gifted LA's first goal by failing to either punch the ball out of the box on a free kick (her best option) or holding on to the ball for the save (what she tried, and failed, to do)...The defense had difficulties with Marta, but otherwise was decent.

But, oh, the midfield...Couldn't pass, couldn't carry, couldn't create...Maybe it was being on the road, maybe it's the lack of time for the team to gel, but this loss is theirs and theirs alone.

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