Breaking down the KC Current’s Pivotal Playoff Win

For the Glory KC is back with the 106th episode of the show.

This week, there is very little Sporting Kansas City in the episode, but they always find their way into the show, simply for comparisons sake if nothing else. Plus, I ran into Graham Zusi at the KC Current game, so we have to talk about that!

Instead of SKC, this is a KC Current focused episode considering they just won a home playoff game in the NWSL for the first time in a decade (and that was FCKC). Kansas City hosted the North Carolina Courage and pulled out a 1-0 win on an 8th minute Temwa Chawinga goal.

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

To break it all down, Xander Kennedy joins the show this week as one of our resident KC Current experts here at the KC Soccer Journal. He and I go through the changes to the lineup and if it was the best path to victory. We break down the team effort that led to the Chawinga goal and find a few unsung heroes on that play.

The game wasn’t one way traffic either, as NC had some big chances, including the wide-open miss by Alene Gomes and the goal that was called off for a foul by Manaka on Almuth Schult. Speaking of Schult, we both sing her praises as she’s in the 99th percentile in some key goalkeeping stats.

Almuth Schult has been a difference maker since taking over in goal for the KC Current. 99th percentile in multiple stats! #KCBaby pic.twitter.com/Zu91aoyX8a

— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) November 10, 2024

And the topic of protecting Temwa had to come up after the referee let her basically be abused throughout the match, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Vlatko Andonovski. It led to an interesting scuffle between Bianca St. George and Ellie Wheeler after BSG taunted Temwa after hacking her to the ground.

Xander and I also share some Graham Zusi stories, talk about Inter Miami being bounced from the MLS Cup Playoffs and the rest of the NWSL playoff matchups.

In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few topics, including:

• Ian James and Jack Kortkamp get callups for SKC
• Jim Curtin is out at the Philadelphia Union
• While Bruce Arena is in over at the San Jose Earthquakes
• Plus, the USL Super League, USL Championship and USL League One all get into the show

Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

• KC Current win a playoff game – 1:58
• MLS Update – 1:06:30
• Digital Crawl – 1:13:14

Upcoming Schedule:

• KC Current @ Orlando Pride, Sun Nov 17th at 2:00PM CST
• Sporting KC and SKC II seasons are over…

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Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

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