KC Current wrap up home finale with a 2-1 win

With a spot secured in the NWSL playoffs after Portland Thorns FC defeated the North Carolina Courage on Friday night, the Kansas City Current now focus on hosting a quarterfinal match. Still, they’ll need to win the next two games to stay ahead of Angel City, Utah Royals, and the Portland Thorns. Angel City took the fourth spot with their win on Saturday. A Kansas City win versus the Spirit would move them back to fourth place.

The Current would have their strongest starting XI for this one. Croix Bethune returned to the starting lineup after missing four games with a hip injury (she returned last week in Utah, subbing in the second half).

SHOWTIME STARTERS 💫

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-10-25T20:08:24.910Z

Kansas City kept the pressure on the Washington half from the start of the game with the high press, but nothing came of it, and the Spirit took advantage of a Lorena error in the box in the 12th minute when the ball bounced off her foot. Clara Luvanga gained possession and had an open box to give the Spirit a 1-0 lead.

The lead did not last long, though. Kansas City equalized two minutes later. Michelle Cooper headed to the Spirit’s final third, attempted a pass to Sharples, but it was blocked. The ball bounced right to Lo’eau LaBonta’s way, who took the shot on goal for the equalizer in the 14th minute.

Right back atcha!The Current make this one even 2 minutes later and we are now 1-1!

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-10-25T21:32:59.575Z

In the 17th minute, Kansas City made it 2-1. With pressure from Haley Hopkins, Washington’s goalkeeper Sandy MacIver lost possession after receiving a pass from her defender. Hopkins’ pass found Bethune in the box, and with enough time to make her next move, she placed it in front of Vanessa DiBenardo, who blasted it into the goal to score her first of the regular season.

Signature Hopkins pressure.Poise from Bethune.Blast by DiBernardo. 2-1 #KCBABY!!!!

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-10-25T21:39:18.616Z

The score stayed 2-1 until halftime. Kansas City nearly made it 3-1 with moments by Temwa Chawinga taking on five Spirit defenders, and Bethune sending a ball to Cooper, who was a touch away from a shot on goal, but Tara Rudd recovered to stop Cooper from the opportunity.

While Kansas City sent numbers up high during the first half, it was impossible to replicate the same tactic with the Spirit’s attack. The Current were held to one total shot, zero on target. The second half saw much of the Washington Spirit determined to equalize (eight shots, 2 on target, .44 xG), and it took Kansas City bringing in five defenders in the 84th minute to defend against the pressure and close out the game at 2-1.

With the win, the Kansas City Current marked two seasons without a loss at CPKC Stadium, extending their home unbeaten streak to 32 consecutive regular-season matches (25-0-7), further cementing their NWSL record.