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]
 Match program cover | |||||||
| Event | 2001 WUSA season | ||||||
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| CyberRays won 4–2 on penalties | |||||||
| Date | August 25, 2001 | ||||||
| Venue | Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts | ||||||
| Player of the Match | Julie Murray (CyberRays) | ||||||
| Referee | Sandra Hunt | ||||||
| Attendance | 21,078 | ||||||
| Weather | Sunshine, Puffy clouds 80 °F (27 °C) | ||||||
Pre-match edit
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 edit
| Bay Area CyberRays | 3–3 (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]
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     Atlanta Beat[4]
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Player of the match
Match officials
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Match rules
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Statistics edit
| 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 |
References edit
- ^ "Bay Area beats Atlanta for inaugural championship". CNN Sports Illustrated. August 25, 2001. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Yannis, Alex (August 25, 2001). "SOCCER; Title Game Could Depend On a Substitute's Impact". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- ^ 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.