Sky Blue Finishes Level With China
Keeper Jillian Loyden shuts out China
Dan Salvo - Dazzle Photography
Sky Blue Select and China overcame a wet weather night to put on an entertaining match for a hearty crowd at Rutgers University's Yurcak Field. Despite a combined 22 shots, the teams finished tied 0-0 in an exhibition match.
China held a 16-6 edge in shots and had the better of the run of play but the Sky Blue defense held strong as keeper Jillian Loyden made four saves to secure the shutout.
China held the upper hand in the run of play in the first half, however it was Sky Blue coming up with the best scoring chances in the early going with Susanna Lehtinen trying to set up Katie Griffin in front of the goal.
In the third minute, Formiga dazzled the crowd when she stole a pass in her own end of the field and carried the ball into the China box before send a pass across for Lehtinen. The Finnish international played a hard ball toward goal the Griffin deflected just wide of the left post. Three minutes later, Lehtinen fed Griffin again but her glancing header skimmed just wide of the right post.
China’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes came in the 36th minute off the foot of Han Duan. The Chinese forward laid into a shot that rolled just wide of the left post from the top of the box.
China attacked throughout the second half racking up six corner kicks and six offside calls after the break. Striker Ji Ting, who came on in the 58th minute, gave the China side a number of chances after entering.
In the 64th minute, Ji Ting got behind and slid a shot just wide of the right post. Four minutes later, China could have easily won a penalty kick when Ji Ting’s effort appeared to bound off the arm of Sky Blue defender Kim Brandão but China only won a corner kick.
Loyden came up with the save of the game in the 71st minute when she touched Bi Yan’s long-distance effort over the bar.
|
June 12, 2007 - Yurcak Field |
1 |
2 |
- |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China National Team | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| Sky Blue Select | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
LINEUPS
CHINA NATIONAL TEAM: Zhang Yanru, Pu Wei (Sun Ling 45), Zhou Gaoping (Jiang Shuai 45), Weng Xinzhi (Liu Huana 79), Li Jie, Liu Yali (Song Ziaoli 61), Qu Feifei (Li Dongling 45), Bi Yan (Wang Kun 88), Xie Caixia, Han Duan (Ji Ting 58), Zhang Ouying (Zhang Ying 75).
SKY BLUE SELECT: Jillian Loyden, Bonnie Young, Fanta Cooper, Kim Brandão, Sarra Moller, Formiga, Susanna Lehtinen (Tiff Weimer 45), Erla Arnardóttir (Tricia DiPaolo 79), Yael Averbuch (Lara Dickenmann 64), Katie Griffin (Kylee Rossi 88), Kelly Schmedes.
GOALS
None
STATISTICS
SHOTS
CHINA: 16, SBS: 6
SAVES
CHINA: Zhang Yanru 2; SBS: Loyden 4
FOULS
CHINA: 6; SBS: 9
OFFSIDES
CHINA: 8; SBS: 1
CORNERS
CHINA: 6; SBS 3
GAME INFO
CAUTIONS/EJECTIONS
SBS: Schmedes (caution) 49th minute
REFEREE
Hossam Saad
ASSISTANTS
Mumtaz Cimen, Ashraf Kamel
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Matt Wetzel
ATTENDANCE
3,271