Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Independence squeak win over Atlanta Beat

Lindsey leads Independence over Atlanta, 1-0
By Marc Narducci

Inquirer Staff Writer

Holmfridur Magnusdottir has an offensive mentality while playing defense.

The Independence back is adept at pushing up and starting the attack.

The Iceland national's skills at both ends of the field were on display as the Independence improved to 2-0-2 with Saturday's 1-0 win over the visiting Atlanta Beat in a Women's Professional Soccer match at West Chester University.

Magnusdottir set up the game's lone score when she sent a free kick to Allison Falk, who headed the ball on goal before an opportunistic Lori Lindsey cleaned up. The April WPS player of the month, Lindsey had assisted on the Independence's first four goals before scoring her first goal in the 25th minute.

"I just tried to send the ball close to the goal," Magnusdottir said. "We have scored three that way this year."

Magnusdottir is still getting accustomed to playing the outside defender position.

"I like it, and I am learning a lot of new things," she said.

Of course sometimes Magnusdottir takes chances on defense, and that does little for the nerves of coach Paul Riley.

"Fridur is great going forward, she is a handful, and sometimes gets a bit carried away, and when you hold a one-nil lead and she is careening down the field you lose more hair than I have already," Riley said.

Lindsey, playing in front of her U.S. national team coach, Pia Sundhage, was unmarked while on the doorstep.

"It was a great ball from Fridur and I was able to spin out and Kirby [Falk's nickname] got a flick on it and I was right there, right place at the right time," Lindsey said.

Both Lindsey and Caroline Seger controlled the midfield. Seger left the game in the 48th minute, after being rattled while contesting a header, but she returned in the 54th minute.

Atlanta (0-3-1) benefited from having Ramona Bachmann, the 19-year-old forward who was named the 2009 Swiss player of the year. Bachmann missed the scoreless tie against the host Independence on April 11 with the flu. She was extremely dangerous taking on defenders, and missed some shots just wide, but central backs Falk and Sara Larsson did a good job of shutting down the middle against her.

For the second straight game, Val Henderson was the Independence's goalkeeper in place of Karina LeBlanc, who was a little fatigued, Riley said, after playing last Saturday in China in a friendly for the Canadian national team.

Riley said that LeBlanc would start Saturday at St. Louis, in the first of three consecutive road games.

Elsewhere: Casey Nogueira and Cristiane scored to lead the Chicago Red Stars to their first win, 2-0, over the Boston Breakers. . . . Christine Sinclair tallied as FC Gold Pride pinned a 1-0 loss on Sky Blue FC, playing without Delran's Carli Lloyd (broken ankle). . . . Lene Mykjaland scored her first WPS goal as the Washington Freedom topped St. Louis Athletica, 3-1.