2002 WUSA All-Star Game

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2002 WUSA All-Star Game
WUSA 2002 All-Star Game logo.gif
Event 2002 Women's United Soccer Association season
DateSeptember 21, 2002
Venue PGE Park, Portland, Oregon
Player of the Match Abby Wambach (WUSA South)
Referee Kari Seitz
Attendance14,208
Weather Sunshine, clear
73 °F (23 °C) [1]
2003

The 2002 WUSA All-Star Game (known as the 2002 WUSA All-Star Game presented by Hyundai for sponsorship reasons) was the first Women's United Soccer Association All-Star Game, a soccer match involving all-stars from Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). Two teams comprised the best players from all eight league franchises met at PGE Park, Portland, Oregon, on September 21, 2002. The WUSA All-Stars South won the game 61, with goals from Abby Wambach (2), Hege Riise, Kylie Bivens, Charmaine Hooper and Shannon MacMillan, while Marinette Pichon scored for the WUSA All-Stars North. WUSA All-Stars South forward Abby Wambach was named as the game's Most Valuable Player. Kari Seitz refereed the game, which was attended by 14,208 spectators and broadcast live on PAX TV.

Contents

Format

For the inaugural staging of the All-star match, the eight WUSA franchises were divided geographically into a WUSA North selection (made up of players from Boston Breakers, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge and San Jose CyberRays) and a WUSA South selection (with players from Atlanta Beat, Carolina Courage, San Diego Spirit and Washington Freedom). [2]

Starting line-ups for the two teams were announced on September 4, 2002 and reserve players on September 9, 2002. The selection formula for the starting line-ups had four elements, each with a 25% weighting: a fan vote, a WUSA player vote, an owner/GM vote and a journalist/media vote. [3] [2] The additional five reserve players were selected directly by the team coaches and WUSA Commissioner Tony DiCicco. [4]

DiCicco had also selected the team coaches, based on the performance of their clubs in the 2002 WUSA regular season. Marcia McDermott was named South head coach, with Jim Gabarra as her assistant, while Mark Krikorian took charge of the North team, assisted by Ian Sawyers. [4] Gabarra replaced Tom Stone, who was initially picked as McDermott's assistant.

The exhibition was played as two 40-minute halves, with free substitution. [1]

An informal WUSA All-Star game had taken place at the 2002 WUSA Draft in February 2002 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Also played with North/South select teams, the WUSA South won 4–3 on that occasion. Homare Sawa, Charmaine Hooper, Cindy Parlow and Shannon MacMillan scored for WUSA South, while Tiffeny Milbrett, Kristy Whelchel and Mandy Clemens replied for WUSA North. The match was marred by a serious injury to Sara Whalen. [5]

Venue

PGE Park in Portland, OR, hosted the match. 20040814 98 PGE Park.jpg
PGE Park in Portland, OR, hosted the match.

Portland (sometimes called "Soccer City") was chosen as the venue in a bid to capitalise on the popularity of the sport in the area. It was hoped this would lead to a boost in WUSA's television ratings in the local market and, although there were no immediate plans for a WUSA expansion team in Portland, it was under consideration for the future. [6] [note 1]

Portland Pilots college soccer alumni Tiffeny Milbrett and Shannon MacMillan were named captains of the respective teams. Their former college coach Clive Charles performed the pre-match coin toss. Charles had terminal prostate cancer and had collected a WUSA lifetime achievement award at an All-Star Gala held two days earlier at the Multnomah Athletic Club. [7]

Organizers were happy with the attendance of 14,208. WUSA's official website reported the figure as a record attendance since PGE Park's 2000–01 renovations, although The Oregonian newspaper reported it as the third largest behind two baseball games. [6]

Match

Summary

Washington Freedom forward Abby Wambach scored two goals and was named the match's most valuable player. Abby Wambach.jpg
Washington Freedom forward Abby Wambach scored two goals and was named the match's most valuable player.

Kristine Lilly withdrew from the match at late notice when she was bereaved by the death of her grandmother, being replaced in the WUSA North starting line-up by Kate Sobrero. [8] Birgit Prinz was voted into the WUSA South selection but was unable to take part as she was on loan to her German club FFC Frankfurt, who were competing in the 2002–03 UEFA Women's Cup qualifying round in Yugoslavia. Shannon MacMillan was elevated from the reserve to starting roster to replace her.

In the tradition of North American All-star games, the match was played at a sedate pace. Referee Kari Seitz called only three fouls and showed no yellow or red cards. [9] The Associated Press report described play as "a bit sloppy", noting that the players were almost one month into their off-season, and that the artificial turf surface at PGE Park was somewhat unsuitable. [10]

On 12 minutes Marinette Pichon scored with WUSA North's first chance, turning and hitting a powerful 15-yard shot into the goal. Nine minutes later Hege Riise equalized from Mia Hamm's pass, and thereafter the WUSA South team took control of the match. Abby Wambach shot past goalkeeper Melissa Moore to score her first goal on 24 minutes. One minute before half-time Kylie Bivens headed in Hamm's cross to give WUSA South a two-goal advantage at the interval. [9]

Wambach chipped in her second goal on the hour mark, then turned provider for Charmaine Hooper who shot past LaKeysia Beene on 66 minutes. In the final minute Shannon McMillan's shot went in off the post to make the final score 6–1 to WUSA South. 2002 WUSA Rookie of the Year Wambach's two goals and one assist saw her named the MVP. [9]

Details

WUSA South Flag of the United States.svg 6–1 Flag of the United States.svg WUSA North
Report
Numerical rosters
PGE Park , Portland, Or.
Attendance: 14,208
Referee: Kari Seitz
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
South
Kit left arm whitelower.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body thinwhitesides.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whitelower.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts whitesides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
North
GK2 Flag of the United States.svg Kristin Luckenbill
DF5 Flag of the United States.svg Tiffany Roberts
DF14 Flag of the United States.svg Joy Fawcett
DF12 Flag of the United States.svg Jennifer Grubb
DF17 Flag of the United States.svg Danielle Slaton
MF11 Flag of the United States.svg Julie Foudy
MF8 Flag of the United States.svg Shannon MacMillan
MF10 Flag of Norway.svg Hege Riise
MF6 Flag of Japan.svg Homare Sawa
FW28 Flag of the United States.svg Abby Wambach
FW9 Flag of the United States.svg Mia Hamm
Substitutions:
GK1 Flag of the United States.svg Briana Scurry
DF13 Flag of the United States.svg Nel Fettig
DF7 Flag of the United States.svg Carrie Moore
MF4 Flag of the United States.svg Kylie Bivens
FW16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Charmaine Hooper
Coach:
Flag of the United States.svg Marcia McDermott
WUSA All-Star South-WUSA All-Star North 2002-09-21.svg
GK1 Flag of the United States.svg Melissa Moore
DF6 Flag of the United States.svg Brandi Chastain
DF17 Flag of the United States.svg Kate Sobrero
DF25 Flag of the United States.svg Jennifer Tietjen
DF5 Flag of the United States.svg Jenny Benson
MF2 Flag of the United States.svg Lorrie Fair
MF16 Flag of the United States.svg Tisha Venturini-Hoch
MF10 Flag of Brazil.svg Sissi
FW9 Flag of Brazil.svg Kátia
FW11 Flag of France.svg Marinette Pichon
FW15 Flag of the United States.svg Tiffeny Milbrett
Substitutions:
GK00 Flag of the United States.svg LaKeysia Beene
DF14 Flag of the United States.svg Erica Iverson
MF12 Flag of the United States.svg Angela Hucles
MF4 Flag of Germany.svg Maren Meinert
Coach:
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Krikorian

Most Valuable Player:
Flag of the United States.svg Abby Wambach (WUSA South)

Assistant referees:
Emiliano Monje
Fabio Tovar
Fourth official:
Sandra Serafini

Match rules

Notes

  1. WUSA folded before expanding to Portland, but a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchise, Portland Thorns FC, began play 10 years later. With PGE Park as their home ground they became successful and enjoyed the highest average attendances of any women's soccer club in the world.

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References

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