Current Exorcise Road Woes in Win Over Denver

After taking the entire month of June off (save for the Challenge Cup), the NWSL resumed its regular season Friday night. The Current hopped over the state of Kansas and crested the mile-high Summit in an effort to shift the narrative that they are unable to win away from home (they entered the game 1-6 in matches outside of KC this season). Their World Cup break was bookended by inaugural games against expansion teams: Kansas City was able to eke out a 1-0 win over Boston at the end of May and now resume the season with a trip to Denver.

Despite the extended break, the Current entered the match still dealing with a lengthy injury list. Reigning keeper of the year Lorena would miss her second straight match (after being unavailable for the Challenge Cup) and Ellie Bravo-Young became a new addition to the report.

In more positive news, Debinha was available for selection for the first time in a couple months. Her presence could provide another option for the Current’s attack, especially after the team made headlines for trading away USWNT staple Ally Sentnor, though she wouldn’t be part of the initial eleven on the field. Jordan slotted in for Lorena in goal and Robinson entering instead of Ball in the defense; the rest of the lineup looked pretty familiar, with Rouse earning another start at fullback, Feist occupying a defensive midfield role, and Hopkins once again getting the nod at the #9.

One of the big questions entering this game was whether Lindsey Heaps would see the field for her new team as she shifts back stateside following a very successful stint at Lyon. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she did not appear on the matchday roster. She’s only recently arrived in Colorado and will likely benefit from a bit more time training with her new squad. Sans Heaps, the Summit trotted this lineup out in their effort to take down the defending Shield holders.

One other subplot to note is the fact that this match, being played at the Colorado Rapids home stadium, marked the return to the area for Current manager Chris Armas after the Rapids let him go at the end of 2025. His hire was not one that inspired a lot of excitement among the KC faithful and his early season returns have left a lot to be desired, especially compared to the previous two seasons. Once again, the team’s inability to find wins away from home has proven to be their Achilles heel, though squaring off against a new team still trying to climb up the table would seem to be an opportunity to right that ship.

The match kicked off at 8:37 KC time and, despite playing at altitude and with a heavy breeze and even some rain, the decision was made to include hydration breaks. That decision would prove fortuitous for the Current. Through the first half an hour there wasn’t much to separate the teams, and really, wasn’t much in the way of exciting soccer. Even the announcers seemed to be searching for euphemisms meaning “boring” over the opening stretches of the match. However, no sooner had the teams retaken the field following the break than the Current hit a new gear. First of all, KC’s high press allowed Hopkins to tackle the ball away from Denver near midfield. Bethune collected and sent a perfect pass to a streaking Cooper who carried into the box and calmly slotted it home near post.

Almost immediately following the restart from that goal, Chawinga did Chawinga things. She stole the ball fifty yards from goal, outran everyone into the box, and was preparing to shoot when she was dragged down from behind. This was an immediate yellow card to the Devener defender and PK awarded to Kansas City. LaBonta stepped up, having been almost automatic from the spot (14 for 16) through her career. It is true that her one other attempt this season had been saved. And perhaps that was in her head because she promptly blasted the shot over the crossbar.

So, instead of KC being comfortably in front by a pair of goals, their lead remained tenuous. And that lead almost vanished entirely in the waning moments of the first half when Jordan was called into action to make a leaping save to maintain the clean sheet.

The Current did have a couple more chances shortly thereafter. First Hopkins played Bethune in on goal and it was good shot with an even better save that kept KC from doubling their lead. Then, on the stroke of the halftime whistle, Cooper sent a cross in to Chawinga who rounded the keeper and trickled a ball toward the goal that was saved off the line by a sliding defender.

Within the first ten minutes of the start of the second 45 multiple KC players seemed to start feeling the effects of the higher elevation. Additionally, the rain started to really come down, creating a tricky situation to try to maintain a lead. With that said, there weren’t a lot of clearcut chances for either team.

Likely looking to keep the pressure on and maintain fresh legs (and lungs), Armas went to his bench in the 62nd minute and brought Debinha in for Hopkins. The change didn’t lead to any immediate opportunities, though Chawinga was almost through on goal in the 68th minute.

The Current nearly scored a classic team goal when LaBonta launched a long ball through to Chawinga who picked out Debinha at the top of the box. The Brazilian had plenty of time to choose her angle and fired a nice shot toward the far post. But, once again, Denver keeper Abby Smith was up to the task and parried it away.

In the 79th minute, Rocky Rodríguez replaced Feist and while she wasn’t directly involved in the play, almost immediately the Current (finally) doubled their lead. It was once again Bethune playing provider as she perfectly found Cooper who notched her first career brace.

With Denver needing to play with much more urgency, it was Kansas City who would actually be the one to score next with Rocky playing Chawinga behind the Denver defense and this time Temwa would make no mistake, blasting it past Smith near post. It was Chawinga’s eighth on the season, keeping her second in the Golden Boot race behind Banda.

In the 90th minute, and with the lead now at three, Armas would bring on his final trio of subs: Scott for Izzy, White for Cooper, and Ball for Bethune. Six minutes of stoppage time wouldn’t result in any more changes to the scoreline and the Current, likely breathing a (low-oxygen) sigh of relief, would earn their second road victory of the season and the three points that accompany it. And Marisa Jordan, making her first regular season start for the Current, did her part to secure a clean sheet.

Next Friday the Current remain on the road with a trip to old nemesis Orlando Pride. Can they build on this success and make it two in a row away from CPKC?