Match Preview: Denver Summit at KC Current

Generally speaking, when a team’s season is winding down and they are in a fierce battle for a playoff spot, taking one point out of a possible six in the two most recent matches isn’t going to get it done. This iteration of the Kansas City Current continues to struggle on the road, continues to be unable to beat the Orlando Pride at home, continues to be unable to consistently finish chances, continues to have occasional defensive lapses. And while all of that is true, by contrast every once in a while, the team “puts it all together” and fans get a glimpse of the world-beaters that took the field most of last summer.

One of the few times the Current have, to some degree, bucked a lot of these negative trends was their July 3rd visit to Denver. In that match, a 3-0 victory, the Current not only earned a rare road win, but also piled up some goals while not conceding. It was also one of those infrequent matches in which Chawinga, Cooper, Bethune, Debinha, etc. all played. In fact, both Cooper and Chawinga scored and Bethune notched a pair of assists. However, even that match had several moments of frustration as Kansas City’s xG (expected goals) was 4.34 and they created seven big chances. In reality, they should have scored more than three times.

Regardless, that Denver Summit team is the one that will now be making the return trip to Kansas City this Saturday morning. The fact that this is a home game for the Current coupled with the result from their previous meeting would suggest this should be a manageable game for KC. However, since that July matchup, Denver has actually earned six more points than Kansas City. This has the league debutants within three points (one win) of catching the Current. In fact, based on their stronger goal differential, if the Summit equal the Current’s point total, they would move ahead of KC in the standings.

For the moment, the Current occupy the 8th and final playoff spot. If the season ended today, the Current would be on the road against Gotham to open the playoffs. But Seattle is just a single point back of KC and, as stated, Denver is now just three behind. Each team has five remaining regular season games, but in effect, the playoffs start now for Kansas City. Another couple of losses could easily see the 2025 Shield winners miss the postseason altogether. On the flipside, if they are able to string together several wins, they still have the opportunity to climb up the table. They sit just four points behind 4th place Utah.

The Summit are on a five-match unbeaten streak, earning eleven points over that stretch. They enter this game in Kansas City knowing a win could vault them above the playoff line. They also are a slightly different team than the one that took the field back in July–most notably with USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps suiting up. Additionally, they have the player sitting in 4th place in the Golden Boot race in Canadian international Janine Sonis. In fact, for as lauded as the Kansas City attack is, the Summit have actually scored more goals this season, while also conceding fewer. In other words, the Current will have to work for any positive result.

The hosts will be looking to bounce back from a humbling outing last weekend in San Diego where the Wave dispatched KC by a 2-0 scoreline. To further complicate matters, the Current’s backline–already thin due to various absences, will now be without the services of Laney Rouse who picked up a red card late in that game. Defenders Ellie Bravo-Young (Maternity Leave), Alana Cook (Knee – SEI), Gabrielle Robinson (Knee), and Katie Scott (U.S. U-20) were all absent last time out, though Scott may be back and available for this game. With Croix Bethune also continuing to be gone as she recovers from a hip injury, and players like Gianna Paul now donning different kits, this once deep squad has few reinforcements to bring on as game changers.

And, just to rub salt in the wound, in the past two weeks all of these former Current players have either scored or assisted a goal: Ally Sentnor, Hailie Mace, Alex Pfeiffer, Nichelle Prince, and Claire Hutton. These are all players who, this time last year, wore the red and teal, but who, for one reason or another now play in front of different fans. In fact, looking at Ally Sentnor specifically, since her midsummer move to Angel City, she has scored five times, including four in September alone. She was a player who never really found her place in the Kansas City lineup, but who has seemingly blossomed with a move to California.

The production and depth these players could have provided for the Current right now is being actively missed.

WHEN: Saturday, September 26 at 11:30 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, MO

HOW TO WATCH: CBS / Paramount +

Record:

KC Current: 11-5-9 (38 points, 8th place)

Danver Summit: 9-8-8 (35 points, 10th place)

Last Match:

KC Current: 0-2 away loss to San Diego Wave

Denver Summit: 2-1 home win over Seattle Reign