By: Pedro Heizer
The magicJack hosted the Western New York Flash on Wednesday night in one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the WPS season. The stars were certainly out with players like Abby Wombach, Christie Rampone, Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, and five-time FIFA Player of the Year, Marta, all at hand playing the best that women’s soccer could offer, and they didn’t disappoint.
A total of 17 players from both teams participated in the World Cup this summer in Germany (the magicJack had nine and the Flash had eight), this was definitely the marquee matchup everyone was waiting for.
“It was definitely one of the best games I have ever played in [Women’s Professional Soccer],” said Flash forward Alex Morgan. “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Before the ball even hit the field, the game was already sold out, over 4,011 fans flocked the FAU Soccer Stadium in Boca Raton to watch their heroes play. The 4,011 fans was a new attendance record for a Women’s Professional Soccer match in Palm Beach County.
“It was a great opportunity for women’s soccer, to have all these fan out here not only supporting the magicjack but also supporting us, it’s a very humbling experience” said Marta after the game.
Before the World Cup, the magicJack had trouble getting 1,000 people to come watch their games, but ever since “World Cup Fever” it has been a different story. “It’s definitely been like night and day when it comes to how many people were here before [the World Cup] and now,” explained USWNT hero and magicJack goalkeeper Hope Solo. “You will have all your bandwagon fans, but if from all those bandwagon fans we get five or maybe even 10 real fans, we will be in good shape.”
The game itself was a pretty good one, the Flash scored in the 64th courtesy of Marta. The Brazilian striker’s first goal came off and counterattack with her blasting through the magicJack defense. “In the first half we didn’t play our style of soccer,” said the five-time FIFA World Player of the Year “but then in the second half, something clicked and we started playing the game we are all accustomed to playing.”
Despite having 16 shots on goal, the magicJack were able to only score once on a goal by Sophie Schmidt from a beautiful assist from Christie Rampone.
The second goal also came courtesy of Marta, “We have a set play for short corners where I usually try to hit the ball off a player for it to go in, but this time that didn’t happen and I was fortunate enough to get the ball back on my foot and I scored” Marta explained.
The magicJack play the Philadelphia Independence on Sunday at 4pm at the FAU Soccer Field, and the magicJack will host their first ever playoff game on Wednesday as they will host the number four seed in the WPS Playoffs.
Goalkeeper Hope Solo did not play due to a shoulder injury but she was at hand signing autographs for fans