Shots on goal were up in draw with Chicago, now it’s time to finish
Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra said it wasn’t a strategic ploy to get the ball early and often to Sonia Bompastor in last week’s 1-1 draw with Chicago. It just made sense considering how dangerous the French left-winger has proven to be in the young Women’s Pro Soccer season.
“That kind of shows the respect and the confidence the team has in her as a player,” said Gabarra. “They know when they give her the ball, she’s not going to lose it. She’s going to create a passing lane or a good chance to score. I think it’s mostly the players realizing that’s the player that they want to have the ball. It’s nothing that’s tactical on our part.”
Gabarra did slide Bompastor forward in the match, moving to a three-player front line that was far more dangerous than a two-forward setup had been in Washington’s season-opening loss at Los Angeles. The Freedom (0-1-1) produced 14 shots on goal versus just three for the Red Stars. The finishing comes next.
“A couple weeks can do a lot of good,” said Freedom forward Abby Wambach. “We changed our formation a bit, got Sonia up on our front line. Still working a bit with Lisa [De Vanna], we’re trying to get used each other.”
Along with Bompastor and De Vanna, an Australian, the foreign contingent has already made its mark on WPS. Washington had its hands full last week with Chicago’s English midfielder, Karen Carney. International teammate Kelly Smith leads Boston (1-1) with 2 goals and an assist. But the Freedom couldn’t be much more pleased with the tireless 28-year-old from Mer, in the Loire Valley south of Paris.
“I think,” said Wambach, “that Sonia’s going to be one of the best left-sided players in this league.”
