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 Boston, 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
Bay Area CyberRays Atlanta Beat
3 3
CyberRays won 4–2 on penalties
Date25 August 2001
VenueFoxboro Stadium, Boston, Massachusetts
Player of the MatchJulie Murray (CyberRays)
RefereeSandra Hunt
Attendance21,078
WeatherSunshine, Puffy clouds
80 °F (27 °C)

Pre-match

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
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
Foxboro Stadium,
Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 21,078
Referee: Sandra Hunt
Bay Area CyberRays[4]
Atlanta Beat[4]
BAY AREA CYBERRAYS:
GK1 LaKeysia Beene
DF6 Brandi Chastain (c)
DF5 Kelly Lindsey
DF2 Thori Bryan
DF17 Gina Oceguera 90'
MF15 Tisha Venturini
MF10 Sissi 90'
MF4 Carey Dorn
FW7 Christina Bell 66'
FW8 Julie Murray
FW9 Kátia
Substitutes:
MF20 Ann Cook 90'
FW18 Megan Horvath 66' 104'
FW23 Jacqui Little 104'
Coach:
Ian Sawyers
ATLANTA BEAT:
GK1 Briana Scurry
DF21 Lisa Krzykowski
DF6 Sharolta Nonen
DF17 Dayna Smith 41'
DF25 Nancy Augustyniak
MF8 Homare Sawa 104'
MF5 Nikki Serlenga
MF4 Kylie Bivens 63'
MF15 Julie Augustyniak 39'
FW12 Cindy Parlow (c)
FW10 Charmaine Hooper
Substitutes:
MF23 Amy Walsh 39'
FW9 Sun Wen 63'
FW22 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
Bay Area CyberRays Atlanta Beat
Total shots138
Shots on target97
Corner kicks810
Fouls committed1714
Offsides21
Yellow cards11
Red cards00

Source

References
  1. "Bay Area beats Atlanta for inaugural championship". CNN Sports Illustrated. August 25, 2001. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. "WUSA Announces Boston as Site for Inaugural Championship Game". United States Soccer Federation. July 11, 2001. 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. Kassouf, Jeff (October 19, 2011). "Classics: Bay Area CyberRays top Atlanta Beat in first-ever Founders Cup". The Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
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