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KC Current return to CPKC stadium, defeat Angel City FC, 4-2

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6 months ago

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Photo Credit: Thad Bell | KC Soccer Journal

The Kansas City Current returned to CPKC Stadium for the second home game of the season, hosting Angel City FC, a team they had yet to beat. Coming into the match, Kansas City was 0-3-1 vs. Angel City. The Current opened the season with two straight wins, a first in club history, and added another one, remaining undefeated and finally getting a win against Angel City with the 4-2 victory.

Starting XI

Highlights

After an early attack from Angel City and a defensive block by defender Elizabeth Ball, the Current found themselves in the counter-attack, with Temwa Chawinga using her speed to cross the ball into the box. Nothing resulted from that attack, but it would set the tone for the game as Kansas City scored four goals.

A clearance sent to Current forward Bia Zaneratto’s way gave Kansas City their first goal in the 6th minute. Bia won the ball and was able to get past her defender for a pass to Chawinga, who found Vanessa DiBenardo on the right. DiBenardo’s one touch with her right foot to the back of the net gave Kansas City the lead early in the first half, her second goal of the season.

Kansas City looked to add another goal as the second half was coming to a close. As the Current were on the attack, DiBenardo sent a ball to Alexa Spaanstra, who was making a run on the far post. She connected with a header, but the goal was called offside. It took VAR to review the goal. The video replay at the stadium showed to contradict that referee’s decision, and so did the review. The goal was eventually awarded to the Current for a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

Angel City scored their first goal of the game in the 50th minute with Sydney Leroux heading it past goalkeeper AD Franch. But immediately after the kick off from half following the Angel City goal, Kansas City went into attack mode, winning the ball in the Angel City defensive half. Bia again found Chawinga, who was wide open. The Malawi international was finally able to score after so many opportunities and creating chances for her team. The Current led 3-1 at the 51st minute.

Angel City would not go quietly and again pulled within one goal in the 78th minute with Madison Curry taking a left-footed shot to the top right corner after a corner kick. The 11,500 fans in attendance were silenced after Angel City scored their third goal, tying the game at 3-3 in the 84th minute. The goal was reviewed by VAR, however, as it appeared there might have been an offside. Sure enough, referee Danielle Chesky reviewed the video and reversed the goal, keeping the game in the Current’s favor.

With 11 minutes of stoppage time added, instead of going fully into the defensive mode as they had the previous two games, the Current’s offense produced another goal. This time, Bia won the ball in the Angel City box, beating goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, and scoring a goal of her own.

The goal would seal the Current’s victory, remaining undefeated in the 2024 NWSL season. At the closing minutes of the game, midfielder Desiree Scott did make her return for 2024 after being sidelined with injury all of 2023. It was a significant return for a veteran player who has been a major part of Kansas City women’s soccer.

 

NWSL Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs. Angel City FC
Date: March 23, 2024
Venue: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Kickoff: 2:39 pm CT
Weather: 64 degrees, partly cloudy
Attendance: 11,500

Discipline
40’ Kansas City – Wheeler (Yellow)
75’ Angel City – Nelson (Yellow)
90 + 6 Angel City – Emslie (Yellow)

Scoring
6’ Kansas City – DiBernardo (Chawinga)
45 + 2’ Kansas City – Spaanstra (DiBernardo)
50’ Angel City – Leroux (Emslie)
51’ Kansas City – Chawinga (Bia)
84’ Angel City – Rodriguez
90 + 2’ Kansas City – Bia

Kansas City Current Lineup: Franch, Rodriguez, Robinson, Ball, Wheeler, Hutton, DiBernardo (72’ Lavogez), LaBonta © (90+12’ Scott), Spaanstra (90+3’ Ballisager), Zaneratto (90+3’ Steigleder), Chawinga

Unused Substitutes: Feist, Hamilton, Silkowitz, Lauren, Pfeiffer

Angel City Lineup: Anderson, Riley (83’ Spencer), Nielsen, Gorden, Curry, Fuller, Henry (65’ Rodriguez), Howard, Thompson, Leroux (65’ Bright), Emslie
Unused Substitutes: Haracic, Johnson, Le Bihan, Nabet, Reid

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