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KC Current earn important point in rematch @ Orlando Pride

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4 weeks ago

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Photo Credit: KC Current/NWSL

After their 2-1 loss in Kansas City on July 6, and the Orlando players celebrated at CPKC Stadium afterwards, Michelle Cooper shared on social media that the team wouldn’t forget and were counting down to September. You could almost use Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” song as the hype song for the most anticipated rematch in Orlando.

Since then, the Pride have continued their unbeaten streak, remaining at the top of the NWSL table, coming in 20 games without a loss. The Current lost two additional games after the Olympic break at the Washington Spirit and the North Carolina Courage. Kansas City returned to winning ways last week after a 1-0 win versus Utah, though, which was an important win as the team traveled to Orlando.

Who started?

Almuth Schult got the starting nod at goalkeeper for the third straight game, Elizabeth Ball played outside back, Kayla Sharples joined Alana Cook in the center back position, Ellie Wheeler played outside mid once again, and Nichelle Prince and Temwa Chawinga led the attack in a 4-4-2 formation.

First half: Don’t let Orlando score, plz.

That was the goal, it seemed, as Kansas City played with numbers back to not give Orlando many opportunities in their 53% of possession, and that limited the press that Kansas City is so used to, but the Current had chances, two of them with seven total shots. And this one was Kansas City’s biggest chance in the 39th minute, and who else but Chawinga with the breakaway:

It would have made a difference if Chawinga had not taken that extra touch to try to go around Anna Moorhouse, Orlando’s goalkeeper, but she did, and the scored remained 0-0 going into halftime. Much of that credit was also, of course, to the defense limiting scoring chances, especially Elizabeth Ball and Hailie Mace, who kept the Orlando attack from getting past them on the outside.

Second half: Schult’s saves

When Kansas City signed German goalkeeper Almuth Schult to a contract to the end of the season back at the beginning of August, we scratched our heads. I did, at least. Here was a world-class goalkeeper coming in, at the time, as the backup to AD Franch. After the 4-1 loss in Washington D.C., however, Schult started the next two games, and she was the choice for tonight’s important game in Orlando. Credit to the Kansas City defense for the first half, but for the second half, it was Schult’s saves that kept Orlando scoreless, and to a 0-0 eventual draw.

Exhibit A:

There were two others magnificent saves, including this one one taken by Marta in the 80th minute, one of two saved by Marta shots, by the way:

Schult ended the night with five saves, though it appeared to be more. After tonight, no doubt, Schult is likely to be Kansas City’s starting goalkeeper for the rest of the season and heading into the postseason.

Other game highlights

  • Bia entered the match in the 61st minute for Nichelle Prince, along with Michelle Cooper (who received some boos) for Elizabeth Ball. Wheeler pushed to defend at right back.
  • The attack changed when both Bia and Cooper entered the game. The Current have definitely missed Bia’s movement and partnership with Chawinga.
  • Cooper, coming off an ankle injury, played physically and won several balls from Orlando players. She sure remembered July 6th after all.
  • Desiree Scott subbed in for DiBenardo, who appeared to suffer a knock, in the 83rd minute. Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski confirmed the slight injury after the game.
  • Scott’s physicality was needed at that point in the match. She is The Destroyer, after all.
    https://twitter.com/838_carlisle/status/1834773698529591585

The KC Current return to CPKC Stadium on Friday to host the Washington Spirit in another important rematch as the Current seek to clinch a playoff spot.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current
Date: September 13, 2024
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
Kickoff: 7:10 p.m. CT/8:10 p.m. ET
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy
Attendance: 9,396

Discipline
NONE

Scoring
NONE 

Orlando Pride Lineup: Moorehouse, Angelina (73’ Gautrat), Abello, Sams, Strom, Dyke, McCutcheon, Marta ©, Adriana, Banda, Yates (61’ Duljan)

Unused Substitutes: Crone, Watt, Lawrence, Martinez, Doyle, Pickett, Celia

Kansas City Current Lineup: Schult, Mace (88’ Rodriguez), Sharples, Cook, Ball (61’ Cooper), DiBernardo (83’ Scott), LaBonta ©, Debinha, Chawinga, Prince (61’ Zaneratto), Wheeler
Unused Substitutes: Franch, Ballisager, Feist, Hamilton, Magaia

 

 

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