| GOLEBIOWSKI TO FLY AUSSIE FLAG IN US FINAL Monday 18 August 2003 Qantas Matildas and Washington Freedom attacker Kelly Golebiowski is set to fly the Australian flag in this Sunday’s final of the WUSA, the world’s premier women’s professional league, when Washington take on Atlanta Beat in San Diego. Washington Freedom advance to Sunday’s final after defeating top of the points ladder Boston Breakers in the weekend’s semifinal in Boston. The tight contest saw the score locked at nil-all after extra-time, and Washington emerged victorious in the deciding penalty shootout 3-1. Golebiowski started the semi in left midfield before being substituted in the second half in the sapping heat. The 22-year-old from Sydney hopes to become the second Australian to play in a WUSA final. Julie Murray helped the San Jose CyberRays to the inaugural championship crown in 2001 with an MVP-winning performance. Current Qantas Matildas defender Dianne Alagich was also a member of that CyberRays team but was forced to watch the final from the sidelines after knee reconstruction surgery. Despite boasting US superstar Mia Hamm in their lineup, Washington will enter the final as underdogs, having finished the regular season in fourth place behind 2nd placed Atlanta. Of their three previous meetings this season, Atlanta won twice (1-0 and 2-1) whilst the other match ended in a 1-1 draw. The teams will be fired up to claim their first title, having both suffered a loss in a previous final appearance, Washington last season and Atlanta in 2001. Golebiowski is in her first season in the pro-league, and has been a starter in 12 of the season’s 18 matches for which she has not been away on Australian Team duty. Golebiowski is one of four Australians - Cheryl Salisbury, Joanne Peters, and Alagich are the others - who played in the league this season. The quartet are the core of the Qantas Matildas team about to embark on their final preparations enroute to the US for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Australian Team departs for China this Sunday for two internationals against the world number four nation, before travelling to England, Scotland, and Canada for three more internationals. Golebiowski will join her Qantas Matildas teammates following her WUSA final commitments. The Australians arrive in Los Angeles six days before their opening World Cup match against Russia on 21 September. The Qantas Matildas then continue their Group D matches against China on Thursday 25 September in Los Angeles, then Ghana on Sunday 28 September in Portland. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the flagship event of women’s football and contested by sixteen nations. Original article can be found here: http://www.socceraustralia.com.au/public/article/show.asp?articleid=6555&menuItemID=91 |