Quarterfinal victory! KC Current defeat the North Carolina Courage

The NWSL Playoffs came to CPKC Stadium as the Kansas City Current hosted the North Carolina Courage in their first-ever home playoff game. With 57 goals scored in the NWSL season, a record for most for a team in a single season, including a league-high 37 at home, the Current faced a North Carolina team they have met plenty of times in elimination type games, with this being the fourth meeting between the two teams since 2022. It made it one of the league’s most frequent meetings in knockout stages.

Starting XI: Chawinga is back!

NWSL Golden Boot winner missed the Current’s last game at Chicago last week. Since then, she had been day-to-day for this quarterfinal and listed as questionable on the injury report, and Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski said they would know her status by Friday evening or Saturday morning. Thankfully, for the Current, Chawinga made the starting line-up, and she played all 90 minutes (plus extra time).

OUR PLAYOFF STARTING XI 😤@BlueKC | #TealTime pic.twitter.com/x54q3jwT6o

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) November 9, 2024

Game highlights

Out of all the teams below fourth place, the Courage could pose a challenge for the Current. Before this game, the Current had only defeated North Carolina once in elimination games, and it was this summer in the Summer Cup. The Current would need to come attacking early, like they usually do, and that’s exactly what they did early in the first half.

In the 8th minute, Kansas City took the 1-0 lead after Temwa Chawinga blasted a shot on goal. North Carolina goalkeeper Casey Murphy blocked it, but Michelle Cooper recovered it. She passed the ball to Debinha, who took a shot a goal that hit the post. The ball bounced back to the middle of the box where Chawinga stood. She took a shot, but it was blocked by North Carolina defender Kaleigh Kurtz. Chawinga, without moving from her initial spot, recovered the loose ball and sent it in for the goal. The goal would be 100th goal scored in NWSL playoff history.

Chaos in the box, but Chawinga cleans up the mess! 1-0 Kansas City!! #KCBaby #KCvNC #NWSLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Fiv1NTw9XW

— KC Soccer Journal (@KCSoccerJournal) November 9, 2024

Two minutes later, Claire Hutton nearly made it 2-0, but the shot went wide, in what could have been quite the moment for the 18-year old rookie. It would be one of Current’s fifth shots on goal, and twelfth overall shots.

THE POST DENIES CLAIRE HUTTON 😱 pic.twitter.com/i4hKhPD9fE

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 9, 2024

For the Courage, there was a moment they could have made it 1-1, but the referee disallowed it after Manaka Matusukubo kicked the ball into the goal as goalkeeper Almuth Schult had stopped the ball and had possession. A goalkeeper only needs one hand on the ball to be considered having possession.

😬

North Carolina have been on the front foot for the last 10 or so minutes. #KCBaby #KCvNC #NWSLPlayoffs https://t.co/cN0JEAtysf

— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) November 9, 2024

It was a quieter second half for both teams in terms of goals. Both teams created plenty of opportunities, but it would turn to be more of a defensive half as Kansas City could not break through or did not have the final touch to secure a second goal, and their shots on goal remained at five. Defensively, the Current were also very organized and stopped the Courage’s additional three shots on goal.

Perfectly timed defending from Ellie Wheeler 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/8iicAHdquZ

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 9, 2024

One goal would be all the Current needed to secure the win to head to the semifinals at the Orlando Pride next weekend, setting up quite the matchup between two of the top teams in the NWSL for a spot in the NWSL Championship.