In their home opener, FC Gold Pride defeated defending WPS champion
Sky Blue FC 3-1, with a pair of goals by Christine Sinclair and a
goal by Marta.
"It was great a game for us in front our home crowd," said
Christine Sinclair. "We needed to bounce back from last weekend and
get the win and I was glad that I could contribute."
The Pride started the first half strong creating multiple
chances to score with shots from Camille Abily, Marta, and
Sinclair.
In the tenth minute, Sinclair scored her first goal of the
season, putting away a deflected save off a shot from Camille
Abily.
Sky Blue FC came out of half time starting a new front line
with Rosana and Jessica Landstrom who entered the game for Tasha
Kai and Carli Lloyd.
With the new attacking duo adding more pressure to the
Pride's back line, Sky Blue FC jumped on the board with an early
goal from Laura Kalmari in the 49th minute.
The Pride answered back in the 75th minute with Sinclair's
second goal.
Kelley O'Hara played a ball into space for a running on
Sinclair who chipped Sky Blue FC goalkeeper, Karen Bardsley, to put
the Pride ahead.
In the 82nd minute, Marta scored her first goal as a member
of FC Gold Pride after receiving a pass from O'Hara and struck a
shot into the upper corner of the goal past a diving Bardsley.
Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya was pleased with his team's
performance in front of their home crowd and hopes that it was only
a preview of what the rest of the season will hold.
"I was thrilled to see the stands filled the way they were,"
said Montoya. "I think we did our job and put a show on for our
fans and hopefully they'll want to come back to see more goals and
good soccer because this team is has the quality to do so."
The Pride returns to Castro Valley HS Athletic Stadium next
weekend on Saturday, April 24 at to face the 2010 expansion team
Atlanta Beat.
