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KC Current lose at NC Courage after late goal

 “We cannot give up goals and expect to be successful. It’s just not going to happen.” – Andonovski

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Debinha in the rain | Credit: Thad Bell

The Kansas City Current suffered a 2-1 loss on the road against the North Carolina Courage. The Current took the lead in the 62nd minute when forward Temwa Chawinga not only scored but set a new record with her goal. The goal marked Chawinga’s seventh consecutive NWSL match with a goal, which set a new league record.

The Current made a few changes from their previous match. Almuth Schult started in goal , replacing AD Franch. Nichelle Prince took the injured Michelle Cooper’s spot on the right wing. With Claire Hutton at the U20 Women’s World Cup, Bayley Feist started in the midfield.

Both teams had their moments in the first half but the Courage had the better opportunity. German keeper Schult bravely came out for the ball but was unable to clear it. A mad pinball scramble resulted in the ball headed towards the goal line. Alana Cook made the goal-line save to keep it level.

Another angle of Cook’s save.

The two teams went into the half scoreless. Rain started to fall at varying rates in the second half but the weather did not dampen the relentless Temwa Chawinga. The Current attacker pressured North Carolina defender Malia Berkely when she received a pass from Dani Weatherholt. Berkely’s attempt to move the ball was intercepted by Chawinga, who then went straight at goal. Casey Murphy came out but Chawinga touched the ball past the Courage keeper before slotting the ball past two scrambling defenders for the goal. The goal was a new record, scoring in seven straight league matches.

It did not take long for the Courage to respond. In the 67th minute the Current were unable to clear a cross. It fell to Haley Hopkins who after gaining control shuffled the ball to Cortnee Vine. The Australian winger took a touch, eliminating Nichelle Prince and Hailie Mace before putting the ball up and inside of the back post to level the game.

With much of the second half being played in the rain, it was finally halted when a loud clap of thunder announced lightning in the area. The match was delayed for approximately an hour and a half before resuming.

“I think that the rain delay came at a good time for us because I didn’t think we played good enough before that. Then after that we took a little bit of control of the game and then was able to stabilize everything, get a little bit more organized attacks,” Current head coach Vlatko Andonvoski stated after the match.

While the Current played well after the weather break, it was the Courage who took advantage of an opportunity in stoppage time. Brianna Pinto received a throw-in, turned and bodied aside Lo LaBonta before lacing the ball across goal into the far side netting.

“In the end, I think it was one throw-in that we allowed them to shoot, to receive the ball and turn inside of the box,” Andonovski said. “They just punished us on the opportunity they had. I think that we need to learn how to take care of games or score goals with like five opportunities. We don’t need to create 15 to score more than one goal. On the other side, when we go on an away trip and we score a goal, that should be enough to not lose the game. There should be enough to either win or tie.”

“We cannot give up goals and expect to be successful. It’s just not going to happen,” Andonovski added.

When asked about whether it was a team issue or more individual, Andovoski responded, “We’re looking into what the team could do better as a line, but ultimately it does come down to individuals. Whether a player turns and shoots or player eliminates you on the side one-on-one and takes a shot and scores. On the other side, we had plenty of those and they were able to block every one of them. So we have to be better in that moment.”

NWSL Match Report
Match: North Carolina Courage vs. Kansas City Current
Date: September 1, 2024
Venue: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina
Kickoff: 2:06 p.m. ET/1:06 p.m. CT
Weather: 88 degrees, cloudy (and rainy)
Attendance: 6,003

Discipline
75’ North Carolina – Kurtz (Yellow)

Scoring
62’ Kansas City – Chawinga
67’ North Carolina – Vine (Hopkins)
90+3’ North Carolina – Pinto

Scoring Summary

Goals 1 2 F
North Carolina 0 2 2
Kansas City 0 1 1

North Carolina Courage Lineup: Murphy, Pickett (61’ St. Georges), Miura, Weatherholt (78’ Rauch), Hopkins (81’ Gomes), Williams, O’Sullivan ©, Berkely, Vine, Sanchez (80’ Pinto), Kurtz
Unused Substitutes: Hancuff, Speck, Lussi, McLean, Haugen

Kansas City Current Lineup: Schult, Wheeler, Ballisager, Cook, Mace, LaBonta ©, Feist (68’ Scott), DiBernardo (72’ Jereko), Chawinga, Debinha (90’+3 Magaia), Prince (68’ Rodriguez)
Unused Substitutes: Steigleder, Ball, Franch, Hamilton, Sharples

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