Independence / Indy match reports

Rodriguez nets two more in win over Chicago

Amy Rodriguez is on fire.

On Wednesday night she scored two goals and an assist in the Independence’s 3–0 win over Chicago Red Stars. Rodriguez scored two goals against Sky Blue FC on Saturday, both of which were assisted by Caroline Seger. She returned the favor against Chicago by assisting Seger’s goal in the 53rd minute.

Rodriguez has scored in six consecutive matches. Her eleven goals on the season put her just two goals behind league leader Marta.

Independence coach Paul Riley said, “She is brilliant right now, and everybody knows she is hot and her efficiency right now is unbelievable.”

Rodriguez scored her first goal in the 12th minute when Lori Lindsey intercepted a bad clearance. She delivered the ball to Rodriguez who was charging into open space on the left. Rodriguez took a touch and blasted a shot that deflected off of a defender into goal.

Rodriguez scored again the the 26th minute when she ran on to a long clearance from Nikki Krzysik to chip the Chicago keeper from 25 yards out.

“It’s been the same story lately,” Rodriguez said, “but I’ll take it as long as we keep winning.”

Caroline Seger, the current WPS Player of the Week after recording three assists in Saturday’s 4–1 win over Sky Blue FC, scored the team’s third goal off of a pass from Rodriguez that curled behind the Chicago defense.

“It was a perfect pass from A-rod,” Seger said after the game. “She had two passes from me last week, so I think she felt like she owed me one.”

Val Henderson earned the shutout for the Independence, her second of the season.

Riley said, “I think we played great football tonight. It wasn’t a pretty win, but it was a good win for us. These three points put us in good stead moving forward.”

“I told my team at the end of the game, sometimes you just have to take your hat off and tip it to the better team,” said  Chicago Red Stars coach Omid Namazi. ” We lost to the better team tonight, they deserved it.”

The Independence next face Washington Freedom away on August 4.

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Independence.

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