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Philadelphia Charge 2 San Diego Spirit 0 in both teams' first WUSA match

San Diego Spirit 0 Philadelphia Charge 2
Torero Stadium -- San Diego, Calif.
Sell-Out Crowd of 6,155
April 22, 2001 Clear 55°F

Scoring
PHI - Doris Fitschen (Penalty Kick) 30.
PHI - Kelly Smith (Unassisted) 62.

Spirit
Karlsson, Ulrika
Yunjie, Fan
Bengtsson, Kristin (Koleski, Tara 83)
MacMillan, Shannon
Arkenberg, Tracy (Akide, Mercy 69)
Kester, Sherril
Foudy, Julie
Mascaro, Jen (Montoya, Erin76)
Boxx, Shannon
Pickup, Kim
Tanaka, Rhiannon

Yellow card: Tanaka 59

Charge
Moore, Melissa
Mitts, Heather (Kamholz, Kalli 86),
Doris Fitschen, Doris
Tietjen, Jennifer
Benson, Jenny
Martin, Erin (Demko, Michelle 72),
Ailing, Liu
McDowell, Rebekah
Fair, Lorrie
Olafsdottir, Margret
Smith, Kelly (Mandy Clemens, Mandy 81)

Yellow cards: Fitschen 40, Mitts 44, Olafsdottir 66.

Officials:

Referee: Kari Seitz;
Referee's Assistants:
Emiliano Monje,
Dallas Malhiwsky

Statistical	Spirit	Charge
Shots	13	14
Saves	7	7
Corner Kicks	3	6
Fouls
Offside	7	3

Game Report:

San Diego Spirit lost its first-ever game in the Women's United Soccer Association tonight at Torero Stadium, falling 2-0 to the Philadelphia Charge in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,155 screaming fans.

Philadelphia got its goals from German defender Doris Fitschen and English forward Kelly Smith, meaning an American still has yet to score in the WUSA after four season-opening matches. Spirit forward Shannon MacMillan was named the game MVP after buzzing around the Charge attacking third the entire match, but couldn't find a way to beat Charge goalkeeper Melissa Moore, who spent the entire pre-season with San Diego before being picked up by Philadelphia in the waiver draft in late March.

Fitschen knocked in a penalty kick in the 30th minute and Smith tallied an unassisted goal in the 62nd minute for Philadelphia, which established an early league season high for goals in a game.

The teams tested each other out for the first eight minutes until San Diego's Traci Arkenberg came up with the first scoring opportunity of the match. She worked her way down the right side into a one-on-one situation with Moore, who managed to deflect the ball just wide.

Twenty minutes later, Smith received a nice pass in the penalty box and was pulled down from behind by Kristin Bengtsson for a penalty kick. Fitschen, a German National Team defender and Charge captain, took the kick and scooted it past Spirit goalkeeper Ulrika Karlsson for a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

Philadelphia midfielder Lorrie Fair had a shot from 10 yards out blocked by a Spirit defender in the 32nd minute and Moore made an impressive diving save on San Diego forward Shannon MacMillan's long drive in the 41st minute.

The Spirit came up empty during a hectic sequence early in the second half as Arkenberg's bicycle kick try from the side hit the post and Charge defender Jenny Benson saved a goal seconds later with a clearing header on the goal line.

Smith then doubled Philadelphia's lead in the 62nd minute when she intercepted a back pass by Spirit defender Rhiannon Tanaka, moved left past Karlsson and easily rolled the ball into an empty net.

The Charge return to action this Saturday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to take on the Atlanta Beat. Philadelphia plays its first home game at Villanova Stadium on Sunday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Brandi Chastain and the Bay Area CyberRays.