2001 WUSA Founders Cup

The 2001 WUSA Founders Cup, also known as Founders Cup I, was the first championship match in Women's United Soccer Association history, played between Bay Area CyberRays and the Atlanta Beat to decide the champion of the league's inaugural season. The game was played in bright sunshine at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on August 25, 2001. Bay Area CyberRays defeated the Beat 4–2 on a penalty shootout when the match finished 3–3 after sudden death extra time.[1]

2001 WUSA Founders Cup
Match program cover
Event2001 WUSA season
CyberRays won 4–2 on penalties
DateAugust 25, 2001
VenueFoxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Player of the MatchJulie Murray (CyberRays)
RefereeSandra Hunt
Attendance21,078
WeatherSunshine, Puffy clouds
80 °F (27 °C)
2002

Pre-match

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Ticket prices for the final started at $15 and were also available at $28 and $45, with a discount for group purchases.[2]

Atlanta's star player Sun Wen had been afflicted by injuries to her left knee and ankle and was only fit enough to be a substitute. She had entered the semi-final victory over Philadelphia Charge to decisive effect, scoring a goal and assisting another for Cindy Parlow as Atlanta recovered from 2–0 down to win 3–2.[3]

Match

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Bay Area CyberRays3–3 (a.e.t.)Atlanta Beat
Chastain   6'
Murray   43'
Venturini   86'
Report Bivens   11'
Hooper   14'
Sun Wen   83'
Penalties
Venturini  
Dorn  
Kátia  
Murray  
4–2   Sun Wen
  Serlenga
  Hooper
  Blalack
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bay Area CyberRays[4]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Atlanta Beat[4]
BAY AREA CYBERRAYS:
GK 1   LaKeysia Beene
DF 6   Brandi Chastain (c)
DF 5   Kelly Lindsey
DF 2   Thori Bryan
DF 17   Gina Oceguera   90'
MF 15   Tisha Venturini
MF 10   Sissi   90'
MF 4   Carey Dorn
FW 7   Christina Bell   66'
FW 8   Julie Murray
FW 9   Kátia
Substitutes:
MF 20   Ann Cook   90'
FW 18   Megan Horvath   66'   104'
FW 23   Jacqui Little   104'
Coach:
  Ian Sawyers
 
ATLANTA BEAT:
GK 1   Briana Scurry
DF 21   Lisa Krzykowski
DF 6   Sharolta Nonen
DF 17   Dayna Smith   41'
DF 25   Nancy Augustyniak
MF 8   Homare Sawa   104'
MF 5   Nikki Serlenga
MF 4   Kylie Bivens   63'
MF 15   Julie Augustyniak   39'
FW 12   Cindy Parlow (c)
FW 10   Charmaine Hooper
Substitutes:
MF 23   Amy Walsh   39'
FW 9   Sun Wen   63'
FW 22   Bryn Blalack   104'
Coach:
  Tom Stone

Player of the match

Match officials

  • Assistant referees:
    • Jon Wilson
    • Sharon Wheeler
  • Fourth official: Peter Kokolski

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 15 minutes of golden goal extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Three named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Statistics

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Bay Area CyberRays Atlanta Beat
Total shots 13 8
Shots on target 9 7
Corner kicks 8 10
Fouls committed 17 14
Offsides 2 1
Yellow cards 1 1
Red cards 0 0

Source

References

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  1. ^ "Bay Area beats Atlanta for inaugural championship". CNN Sports Illustrated. August 25, 2001. Archived from the original on August 28, 2001. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. ^ "WUSA Announces Boston as Site for Inaugural Championship Game". United States Soccer Federation. July 11, 2001. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Yannis, Alex (August 25, 2001). "SOCCER; Title Game Could Depend On a Substitute's Impact". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Kassouf, Jeff (October 19, 2011). "Classics: Bay Area CyberRays top Atlanta Beat in first-ever Founders Cup". The Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved January 10, 2014.