The Washington Freedom are headed back to the WPS playoffs thanks to an 88th-minute goal from Abby Wambach that clinched a 1-0 regular-season finale win over Atlanta and rendered meaningless the result of a simultaneous match between Sky Blue FC and Boston.
All the Freedom (8-9-7, 31 points) needed was to avoid the combination of a loss with a win by Sky Blue (7-10-7, 28 points).
“It’s kind of been the theme the last seven games of the year,” said Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra. “It’s all still been in our control. One thing I’ve learned about this group is it’s pretty dependable when our backs are against the wall and we really need something desperately and it’s a do-or-die situation. If we’re in a situation where we can get a win or do something that helps us out or move us up, like the Chicago game, we tend not to perform so well.”
But Gabarra, who was facing imminent dismissal from his job after a five-game losing streak midway through the year, rallied his squad to win each of their final four home games and go 4-1-2 over the final seven regular season matches.
Wambach, who botched a golden opportunity to score on the counterattack in the first half, said it was one of her worst games of the season but happily accepted the role of hero when Becky Sauerbrunn fed her a perfect long ball for her 13th goal of the year.
“She looked up and put it over right over their center back,” said Wambach. “It took a bounce, and I saw [Atlanta goalkeeper] Hope [Solo] come out and then stay, but she was a little too off her line so I kind of popped it over here head, which isn’t my style of goal, but I’ll take it.”
After honoring retiring goalkeeper Briana Scurry in front of 3,545, the Freedom won’t return to Maryland SoccerPlex again this season. To win the WPS title, they’ll have to do what Sky Blue did last season, win three straight matches on the road, starting with a visit to Philadelphia next Sunday (2:30, Fox Sports Net). Should Washington win, it’ll progress to Boston for a semifinal on Thursday, Sept. 23 (8, FSC). FC Gold Pride will host the winner of that match with the championship on the line on Sunday, Sept. 26 (2:30, Fox Sports Net).
“It gives you hope that it can be done,” said Gabarra when asked about Sky Blue’s run last season.
With no expectations that they will, that should suit the Freedom just fine.
