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KC Current lose fourth straight in the regular season, falling to the Houston Dash 2-0

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3 years ago

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Photo: Thad Bell | The Kanas City Soccer Journal
Photo: Thad Bell | The Kanas City Soccer Journal

The Kansas City Current returned to Children’s Mercy Park in a must-win matchup against the Houston Dash, who has become quite the rival for the Current over the last year.  The Current have lost four straight matches in all competitions after a three-match winning streak in April. Facing one of the teams with struggles of their own to the season with a 2-3-3 record in the seasons and winless in their last three road games, a win for the Current would hopefully be a turnaround to a disappointing start so far.

Starting XI

Hoping for a win, head coach Caroline Sjöblom opted for a few changes to the starting eleven, going with a 5-3-2 formation, with Izzy Rodriguez, Addisyn Merrick, Gabrielle Robinson, Croix Soto, and Hailie Mace at the backline; Vanessa DiBenardo (Captain), Debinha, and Jenna Winnebrenner at the midfield; and Cece Kizer and Mimmi Larsson on the attack. The formation allowed Mace and Rodriguez to move up the flanks and continued shifting of players on the field. Notably, Lo’eau LaBonta was on the bench for the start.

First half: Tale as old as time….

The Current came into this half, hoping to not give up the usual goals, at least 2, that have led to their defeat in recent games. At kickoff, the Current were second in the league with most goals against (16). With five defenders, Kansas City looked to sit back and stop the Houston attack. With that many numbers at the back, the Current’s attack failed to produce major chances, and Houston managed to find gaps.

Kansas City’s best chances did come in the 27th and 28th minutes, with Larsson with an attempt in the 27th, but it was saved by Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell. That led to a corner kick and Soto found a shot in the 28th, but again that attempt was saved by Campbell. Houston’s counter in the 30th led to a chance in the 31st, with goalkeeper Cassie Miller having a fantastic save of her own.

Houston broke through in the 42nd minute, though. The Current again would trail going into the second half.

Second half: Tale as old as time…true as it can be

To start the second half, Michelle Cooper replaced Cece Kizer. There were a few bright moments for the Current to equalize and nearly did, with Cooper working to create for Kansas City.

But again, it was Houston who put a dash in the Current’s hopes (see what I did there?) and made it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

Following the goal, Sjöblom brought in three substitutions in the 62nd: LaBonta for Winebrenner, Kristen Hamilton for Larsson, and Kate Del Fava for Rodriguez. The subs kept the ball mostly on the attack for the Current, but they were often one final touch away from a goal, or just could not quite connect in the final third, and when the team did have opportunities, they went way over the goal. They were also facing a veteran goalkeeper, Campbell, who marked 10,000 minutes in the 48th minute of this game.

At full-time, the Current lost their lost fifth straight game in all competitions and fourth straight in the regular season.

Note: If the front office was not satisfied with the previous head coach’s 0-3 start to the season, this latest winless streak must lead to further changes.

 

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SportingXK

It’s so weird…all along I’ve assumed that KC’s attack would be their strength, but their lack of ability in front of the net seems like their undoing (not that their defense has been noteworthy either). Kansas City’s goal scorers (both Current and Sporting) have been truly snakebitten this year. I’m at a loss to explain it.

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Bryan Flores (aka Chzbro)

It’s mindboggling. Some of the chances the Current in particular have whiffed on… That said, I’m about at the end of my supportive, nice guy fandom. Sort it out, guys, or I’m going to start saying mean things.

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Chad Smith

I do feel like I’m kinder to the Current than I am to SKC. But I think my frustration has come through more recently.

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Wes

I’m cancelling paramount, I can’t watch this defense anymore

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Thornando

At full-time, the Current lost their lost fifth straight game in all competitions and fourth straight in the regular season.

Note: If the front office was not satisfied with the previous head coach’s 0-3 start to the season, this latest winless streak must lead to further changes.

I am a Thorns fan who kinda adopted KC last year because they were such a feelgood story. This year, however, it’s like watching what has happened in so many other NWSL cities over time.

I totally agree with you that the latest winless streak must lead to further changes. However, my understanding is that the GM has insulated herself by being part of the ownership group.

Make no mistake that the GM is very clearly the major problem here.

She fired a successful, culture-building coach and replaced him with an interim who does her bidding, because he didn’t want to bench Franch and didn’t want to run a 4-back defense (for which they do not have the right pieces and which was not part of their previous success). He surely preached patience when the team got off to a predictably slow start with all of those injuries. The young GM who had made all these big signings and flashy deals (and also traded away early MVP and Golden Boot leader Lynn Williams) panicked and didn’t like being told to leave the on-field soccer decisions to him. The veterans from last year were clear that Potter wasn’t the problem and vouched for him. I believe them.

Now they have an interim coach who wants to be made permanent but the team has lost 5 matches in a row, most of them at home, mostly conceding multiple goals and scoring none.

Even worse, the interim coach is openly criticizing the team and specific aspects week after week, complaining of their lack of effort, lack of mental toughness, lack of patience on offense, etc. All the finger-pointing is doing nothing for confidence, cohesion, or culture-building.

The GM and the interim coach CLEARLY need to go.

We now have 10 full seasons of NWSL data, and this is what it looks like on the field when there are problems in the front office and/or with the coach. The list is long, and you can see it for yourself.

As I said, the GM is part of the ownership group, and I don’t yet have a sense that the Longs and the Mahomeses have the nerve to remove her as GM, whether or not that also requires buying her out. But that’s what has to happen here, and you need a coach who rebuilds the trust and relationships with and among the players.

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Cindy Lara

Hi! Are these just assumption or you know something we don’t? Feeñ free to email me @ cinderalara@gmail.com

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Chad Smith

Is she part owner? I know in the initial announcement, she’s not listed: https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/kansas-city-returns-to-the-nwsl-as-expansion-team-in-2021

When she joins, there is no mention of an ownership stake either: https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/news/kansas-city-current-names-camille-levin-general-manager

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