Houston Dash at KC Current in the Summer Cup: Match Preview

More so than most other sports, domestic soccer leagues routinely have to take “breaks” for international windows. Often, these breaks are a week or two, allowing for national teams to schedule a couple of friendlies. Occasionally, though, the breaks are significantly longer, as is the case right now in the NWSL as national teams, including the US, head to Paris for the Olympics.

The Kansas City Current will have 50 days between league matches: July 6 through August 25. Even within the realities of soccer seasons, that is quite a long time. Adding to that is the fact that their July 6th match was their first and only loss on the season, and knocked them from the top spot in the league standings, and the timing of this break feels rather cruel. There is no doubt the team is eager to get back onto the pitch and re-exert their dominance and hopefully find a way to climb back over Orlando into first place. But they won’t have a chance to start working on that until they visit the Washington Spirit (currently just a single point behind them) on 8/25.

Looking for the silver linings of this break, it will allow a couple of key contributors more time to heal as Vanessa DiBernardo works her way back from a concussion and Bia Zaneratto recovers from a stress fracture in her foot. Additionally, the Current will be represented on a few teams in the Olympics and other international competitions during this break so fans can tune in to cheer on Nichelle Prince with Canada (who scored for her country a few days ago in her team’s win over Australia), Lauren with Brazil (one of four alternates with the team), Hanna Glas with Sweden and Stine Ballisager Pedersen with Denmark as they attempt to qualify for the 2025 Euros, and Claire Hutton with the U-20 USWNT as they prepare for that World Cup.

With all that said, there will still be soccer for the Current during this break as they will participate in (and host) a pair of mini-tournaments that feature both domestic and international competition. In mid-August, CPKC Stadium will host The Women’s Cup, but first up is the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup that kicks off this Friday and will feature all 14 NWSL teams and six of the top Liga MX Femenil squads. The format for this competition is distinct as the 20 teams are split into five groups (KC is in Group C along with the Houston Dash, Tigres UANL, & Pachuca) of four teams. The teams play each other within the groups and then the top four group winners based on points advance to the semifinals, also hosted at CPKC Stadium (on August 6). That means that one group winner will fail to advance to the semis. The final will be on 10/25 in Texas.

The Current begin the Summer Cup by hosting a familiar foe this Saturday. Kansas City and Houston have not only already met twice this season, but because they’re both midwestern teams have regularly been placed in the same group for competitions like pervious Challenge Cups resulting in the Current having faced the Dash more than any other opponent. Saturday marks their 16th battle and KC has the edge with an 8-4-3 record that includes a 2-0 victory in the same venue just a few weeks ago. In that match, Kansas City had to work hard to eventually get a ball past USWNT goalkeeper Jane Campbell, firing 28 shots, including 9 on target her way. This time around, the Current won’t have to face that same obstacle as Campbell will be with the US team in Paris. Likewise, attacker Diana Ordóñez was recently called up to the Mexican national team and so may be unavailable for use by Houston this weekend.

Much of the intrigue surrounding these two Cups for the Current is not only the chance to earn the team’s first trophies since their return the Kansas City, but likely getting a look at some different lineups and other players earning minutes. Recently, Coach Andonovski had settled into a fairly set regular lineup and rotation (though of course injuries can play havoc with plans). But the combination of these upcoming matches not counting towards league standings along with some international absences and injuries, he will need to lean in other directions. Some questions to consider: Will someone other than AD Franch see time between the posts? Will Sophie Braun or (if she returns in time from her time with Sweden) Hanna Glas make their club debuts? Will Regan Steigleder or Alexa Spaanstra see more regular minutes than they have in recent games? Will fan-favorite Kristen Hamilton finally make her way back onto the field after only two brief appearances early this season? And then, if any of these things happen, can these players perform well enough to earn increased usage once league matches resume?

Two weeks removed from the bitterness of the defeat at the hands of the Pride, the Current are ready to turn the page and get back to doing what they do best–scoring goals in bunches and winning matches. With upcoming games that could include some of the top teams from not just the US but also Mexico, Spain, South Africa, and Japan, another streak of victories would provide more evidence that Kansas City fans are spoiled by getting to watch some of the world’s best soccer.

WHEN: Saturday, July 20 at 7:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, MO

HOW TO WATCH: Paramount+ / Golazo

Record:

KC Current: 0-0-0 in Summer Cup; 10-5-1 (35 points, 2nd place in league standings)

Houston Dash: 0-0-0 in Summer Cup; 3-5-8 (14 points, 12th place in league standings)

Last Match:

KC Current: 1-2 home defeat to Orlando Pride

Houston Dash: 0-1 road defeat to Chicago Red Stars