Vlatko gets his 100th Win as the KC Current Slay Bay FC

With the playoffs already secured, the Kansas City Current looked to take another step towards the NWSL Shield on Saturday night against Bay FC.

The KC Current had quite a few changes in the lineup for their trip to Northern California. Temwa Chawinga and Lorena were both on the injury report, but only Lorena missed the game. She was replaced by Laurel Ivory, but backup goalkeeper Clare Gagne was also put on the season ending injury list earlier in the week. The team signed former Princeton keeper Tyler McCamey and immediately had to put her on the bench for this game.

In other changes, Bia returned to the starting lineup, pushing Ally Sentnor back to the bench. Elizabeth Ball also returned from injury, sending Ellie Wheeler to the bench and Hailie Mace back to right back. The only other change was Rocky Rodriguez letting Claire Hutton get a bit of a rest.

TEAL ONLY BE DOING ONE THING 📈@BlueKC | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/anMbs2eO1p

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) September 7, 2025

Our Saturday night Starting XI! #BayFC #BAYvKC pic.twitter.com/0u7N0Kh1Zb

— Bay Football Club (@wearebayfc) September 7, 2025

The first big opportunity for the Current came in the 9th minute. Bia asked for a ball into a perfect space and played it first time to Debinha, who was rushed by former KC Current keeper Jordan Silkowitz. Deb tried to chip Silkowitz and sent the ball just wide of the post.

Mere minutes later, another chance would come KC’s way with a ball played over the top to Izzy Rodriguez. Her cross found Michelle Cooper’s head and the ball bounced around in the box until it found Bia’s foot. She blasted the volley, but it was saved off the line!

Oh my! What a save! Bia is robbed! #KCBaby #BAYvKC

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-09-07T02:24:58.105Z

In the minutes that followed that save, the game didn’t slow down. Temwa got in for her first good chance of the game, but a beautiful Silkowitz kick save kept the game scoreless. Shortly after that, Cooper played Temwa in and she decided to go first time instead of rounding the keeper and sent her shot wide of the post.

In between those Chawinga shots, Bay did make a marauding attack into the KC Current’s box and there were shouts for a penalty kick based on an Elizabeth Ball challenge. Ultimately, even though VAR intervened, the center ref didn’t see enough to change the call on the field. The angle felt inconclusive. Maybe Ball touches her, maybe she doesn’t. Whatever call was made originally, was probably likely to stand, and that is how it played out.

PK shout from Bay. VAR intervenes but the ref doesn't see enough to change the call of 'no penalty' that was originally made on the field. I think it would be hard to change either way based on these angles. #KCBaby #BAYvKC

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-09-07T02:31:49.604Z

In the 24th minute, it looked again like the Current were sure to score. Debinha played Temwa up the left wing and she tried to hit a hard cross but didn’t get enough on it. Silkowitz snagged it, stopping a sure Bia tap in. Right after, Bia did get a chance to take a shot and sent it just wide. The opening 25 minutes were nearly all the KC Current’s.

Right after that, Bay almost found their opener off a Kansas City gaff. Ball made a back pass that was way too hard, and Ivory struggled to handle it and had to make a panicked clearance. It wouldn’t take long before KC would have another chance as they quickly headed down the field and Bia, Debinha and Temwa combined again to get Temwa a point-blank shot that was once again stopped by Silkowitz. Three really good Temwa chances and none of them were in the net. That’s pretty surprising.

The game lost a little rhythm for the next few eight to 10 minutes until Bia did a remarkable pass to Debinha, who cut it back to her right and shot just wide of the post. Right after that, Rocky was the first player in the book when she stole the ball but stomped a foot in the process. Yellow card.

It was starting to look like, despite all the promising attacks from Kansas City, they’d go into the half without scoring. However, Cooper would have something to say about that. Mace sent a ball over the top to her, and she brought it down with an excellent first touch. Her second touch was all she would need as she caught Silkowitz cheating just a little and blasted it home at the near post. 1-0 at the half.

COOOOOOOOP!!! #KCBaby #BAYvKC

— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-09-07T02:59:27.306Z

Somehow, the xG (per the NWSL/Ion), was only 1.37 with all these golden chances. The KC Current were utterly dominant with their 17 shots, including seven on target. They even led the possession, a stat they generally don’t even care about.

I legit thought the xG might be 3+ with all the chances KC had in the first half. #KCBaby #BAYvKC

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-09-07T03:08:55.708Z

To kick off the second half, Rocky was subbed off for Hutton, likely because of her yellow card. I imagine Hutton wasn’t set to come on quite so early, but there is no need to take a risk. No one on the Current are at risk for an accumulation suspension, though.

GOOD BEHAVIOR UPDATE WEEK 18175 players have received a yellow card, 4 new players last weekendWeek 18 reductions: 8, Total: 110Players @ Card Accumulation Warning: 4Suspended MD19: Hodge, Fischer, FlintCoaches: 1 (Coenraets) – Gale Suspension MD-19Players @ 4/5 heading into next week: 19

— Taylor Vincent (@tayvincent6.bsky.social) 2025-09-05T01:52:41.273Z

The second half started much slower for Kansas City. As is often the case, they took their foot off the gas a bit and were content to disrupt Bay’s attacks. Despite Bay’s control, it was Kansas City with the first golden chance of the half. A simple, steady build up in the left side of the attack found Izzy Rodriguez in space. She sent in a lovely, curled cross that found the abs of Debinha and still almost went into the net if not for a diving Silkowitz save.

Izzy Rodriguez to Debinha, but Silkowitz comes up big again! Still 1-0 KC. #KCBaby #BAYvKC

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-09-07T03:41:07.602Z

Immediately after that, Kansas City made its next two changes. Sentnor replaced Debinha and Nichelle Prince replaced Cooper.

It looked like Bay were going to get an amazing chance not too long after the subs when Racheal Kundananji was on a break and the turf monster got her. She had Mace on her heels until she fell down and killed the attack. Bay FC finally went to the bench after that, making a triple sub. One of the subs was the first ever Kansas City Current draft pick, Kiki Pickett.

The next surefire goal, that somehow didn’t go in, found Bay turning the ball over deep in their own half and Lo LaBonta finding a wide-open Bia Zanerrato. Only, Bia blasted her wide-open attempt right at Silkowitz and didn’t really test her.

The Current nearly had another chance, but Rachel Hill had to drag Temwa to the ground and give up a yellow card to avoid that opportunity coming to fruition. In the subsequent minutes after Hill’s yellow, she had two rough challenges on Izzy, each earning a talking to from the referee, Elvis Osmanovic.

The KC Current went to the bench again, as despite her dominance, Bia was wearing down. Hailey Hopkins replaced her. Bay FC also made their fourth sub when Paulson replaced Boade. In the 90th minute, LaBonta was subbed out as the final move for the Current and replaced by Gabby Robinson, fresh off a red card suspension. That move dropped KC into a 5-4-1 with the wingers tucking in as wide midfielders.

And who was playing center forward? Temwa, and that’s all you need. In the 92nd minute she sealed the game with her endless motor. A turnover a few yards into KC’s half fell to Temwa Chawinga who took off towards the goal. Despite being questionable with an ankle injury, she outran everyone and chipped Jordan Silkowitz to ice the game. 2-0 Kansas City!

Temwa ices it! Your #NWSL Golden Boot leader! 2-0 KC! #KCBaby #BAYvKC

— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-09-07T04:05:42.507Z

That goal put Temwa back into first place in the Golden Boot race. She’s level on goals with NY/NJ Gotham’s Esther, but holds the lead having the tiebreaker with more assists.

The game would end with KC getting their third straight 2-0 win and inching closer to lifting the Shield. Bay FC, on the other hand, remained in 12th place having gone winless in eight straight.

The victory also was a special one for Vlatko Andonovski. It was his 100th win in the National Women’s Soccer League. He’s only the second coach to ever hit that mark, despite spending a few seasons away with the USWNT.

KC are back in action next weekend when they host the Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium.