Down a player, Independence rally past Atlanta, 2-1
After being reduced to 10 players on the field following a red card to defender Kia McNeill in the 13th minute, the Independence went into the locker room at the half on Sunday down by a goal, but came back in the second frame to topple the Atlanta Beat, 2-1, in a Women's Professional Soccer match in Kennesaw, Ga.
After being reduced to 10 players on the field following a red card to defender Kia McNeill in the 13th minute, the Independence went into the locker room at the half on Sunday down by a goal, but came back in the second frame to topple the Atlanta Beat, 2-1, in a Women's Professional Soccer match in Kennesaw, Ga.
Atlanta midfielder Lori Chalupny scored for the Beat in stoppage time just before the break, taking advantage of discombobulated defending by the Independence.
Second-half substitute Estelle Johnson, who had come on for Sinead Farrelly after the break, equalized in the 50th minute off a deflection by Atlanta keeper Allison Lipsher.
The Independence (2-1-1) went ahead in the 73d minute on a beautiful play, with Tasha Kai crossing to Joanna Lohman, who pushed it back across the box for Laura del Rio to slot past Lipsher.
The shorthanded Independence then stymied the Beat (1-4-1), with Atlanta's best chance coming on a late shot by Megan Jesolva that skittered along the crossbar over keeper Val Henderson.