Match preview: Kansas City Current at Gotham FC

With the international break over, and the much-deserved U.S. Women’s National Team debut of Lo’eau LaBonta that we all celebrated this past week, the NWSL returns this weekend. Up next for the Kansas City Current: a trip to Gotham FC to complete their three-game road trip.

Match details

Kansas City Current
@ Gotham FC

Sports Illustrated Stadium | Harrison, NJ
12 pm CT

TV: CBS

Radio: 90.9 The Bridge, KC Current app

ICYMI and FYI

• The Kansas City Current remain at the top of the NWSL table for the sixth week in a row, winning eight games and losing two. Their last win two weeks ago was at the Chicago Stars, winning 3-1 with goals by Bia Zaneratto, Temwa Chawinga, and Kayla Sharples.
• Goalkeeper Lorena leads in cleans sheets with five. She has 26 saves overall. That’s a .788% save percentage.
• Temwa Chawinga is now the Current’s leading scorer with six goals.
• Kansas City has scored 22 goals, holding a 15 plus goal differential in 10 games, which is the best ever in NWSL history. 15 of 22 those goals have come in the first half.
• Midfielder Vanessa DiBenardo is one assist away from tying the NWSL regular season assist record, which is 31. She is also one game away from reaching 200 NWSL appearances.

What you need to know about Gotham FC

Gotham FC has not been the team of the past this season, at least not like their 2023 NWSL Champions selves or playoff-bound 2024 selves. They are 3-4-3 so far and sit in ninth place, just hanging outside playoff contention (if the playoffs started next week). Gotham is coming off back-to-back losses, including a 1-0 loss to the San Diego Wave at home on May 16. The last time they earned three points was at the end of April, so they went all month of May without a win. Gotham did recently win the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup, defeating Liga MX Femenil side Tigres UANL 1-0 in the final, so that’s something to celebrate in New York/New Jersey.

Despite Gotham’s struggles in May, they have one of the top scorers in the league. Forward Esther González is currently tied for first in the NWSL with seven goals and needs just one more brace to tie the league’s single-season record. But she is coming off international duty with Spain, having played a game on Tuesday in Barcelona, which could limit playing time for González, or she could be ready to go, and the Kansas City defense will need to be alert.

Recent KC vs. Gotham meetings

Saturday’s match will be the tenth all-time meeting between the two clubs. Kansas City holds the edge as Gotham FC has a 0-4-5 record agains the Current. In their two meetings last season, Gotham and Kansas City played to 1-1 draws. Kansas City defeated Gotham FC in the Summer Cup final back in October to lift their second franchise trophy in 2024. Gotham has a history of taking the lead against the Current, at least in four of nine meetings, but Kansas City finds a way to come back to earn a draw. 

Injury report