KC Current clinch playoff spot after 3-0 win

Win and the Kansas City Current would clinch a playoff spot, though it would not be easy as the opponent would be against the Washington Spirit, a team that has won 5 of their last 7 meetings, including a 4-1 victory on August 25. While Kansas City looked to clinch a playoff spot, the Washington Spirit would hope a win would inch them closer to the NWSL Shield race.

Who started?

PUSH. FOR. PLAYOFFS. 👊@BlueKC | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/TKE0vF8NfN

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) September 20, 2024

Almuth Schult got the starting nod at goalkeeper for the fourth straight game, and Michelle Cooper returned to the starting XI. The Current lined up 4-3-3, but often transitioned to 3-4-3 with Wheeler and Cooper on the outside midfield on the attack.

First half: KC is back!

The Kansas City Current are just a different team when they play at CPKC Stadium. That’s just fact. It didn’t take long for the Current to get on the board early, and it was important to do so. While last week against Orlando, the Current played conservatively to defend Orlando’s attack and earn a point, Kansas City set their attack to score tonight, while keeping Washington from getting many chances.

In the 4th minute, with the attack starting with Schult who passed to Cook who found Prince who then found Cooper wide open on the wing. Cooper dribbled into the box, and then beat Casey Krueger for a shot. Prince was able to get a final touch on the ball to put it in the net, her first goal of the season, becoming the 18th goal scorer for the Current. It would also be goal number 44 for the high-scoring KC offense.

THAT MICHE TO NICHE COMBO 🤩@nichelleprince7 gets her first goal for #KCBABY to give us the 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/8MJa0h8zIi

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) September 21, 2024

The Current extended their lead in the 31st minute. Basically, it was all LaBonta dribbling into space, barely challenged, giving her an opportunity to take a low shot into the corner. The goal was her sixth of the season and 45th for the Current, and giving Kansas City a comfortable lead heading into halftime.

CELLY QUEEN STRIKES AGAIN 👑@L0momma connects with the back of the net to grab the team's 45th goal of the season 🤯 pic.twitter.com/37I291mSJG

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) September 21, 2024

Second half: Happy Birthday, Temwa Chawinga!

Let’s talk Temwa Chawinga. As the second half got underway, we had yet to see her score a goal. She was often double-teamed or her final touch was met by a Washington stop. Before last week at Orlando, she had scored a goal in 8 straight games. A Chawinga goal was inevitable again, but whether she could break through the Washington defense tonight was the question.

It took for Bia to enter the game in the 59th minute for familiar partnership to happen. 10 minutes later, teamwork between Chawinga, Bia, and Debinha led to Kansas City’s third goal of the game, and Chawinga’s 16th goal of the season. Chawing is two goals from tying the NWSL single season record for regular season goals, which is 18 goals set by Sam Kerr in 2019 with the Chicago Red Stars. The Current have also now scored 46 goals in 2024, the fifth-highest total in NWSL history.

BIRTHDAY GOOOALLL 🎂

Golden Boot Leader Temwa scores her 16th goal of the season assisted by @L0momma!@nwsl | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/9VR63LImIY

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) September 21, 2024

The goal cemented a major win for the Kansas City Current and a spot in the NWSL playoffs. The Current also marked their eighth consecutive home victory in all competitions, and the club’s sixth shutout victory as well.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs. Washington Spirit
Date: September 20, 2024
Venue: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City MO
Kickoff: 7:10 p.m. CT/8:10 p.m. ET
Weather: 89 degrees, fair
Attendance: 11,500

Discipline
29’ Kansas City – Cooper (Yellow)
90+8’ Washington – Silano (Red)
90+10’ Washington – Washington Bench (Yellow)

Scoring
4’ Kansas City – Prince (Cooper)
31’ Kansas City – LaBonta (Mace)
69’ Kansas City – Chawinga (Debinha) 

Kansas City Current Lineup: Schult, Wheeler, Sharples, Cook, Mace (86’ Magaia), LaBonta – c, DiBernardo (86’ Scott), Debinha (90+2’ Jereko), Chawinga, Prince (59’ Zaneratto), Cooper (59’ Ball)
Unused Substitutes: Franch, Ballisager, Rodriguez, Feist

Washington Spirit Lineup: Kingsbury – c, Krueger (46’ Carle), Butel (65’ Morgan), McKeown, Metayer, Santos, Sullivan, Hershfelt, Rodman (79’ Brown), Kouassi (65’ Silano (90+8 Red Card)), Hatch (46’ Morris)
Unused Substitutes: Barnhart, Ratcliffe, Stainbrook, Butler