Connect with us

KC Current

KC Current fall 3-2 to Orlando Pride

Orlando attack overpowers Current

Published

4 weeks ago

on

Marta | Credit: Thad Bell

The Kansas City Current fell 3-2 to the Orlando Pride in the NWSL semifinal. Orlando advances to play a talent-laden Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday. It was the most anticipated match for most of the season with both teams at the top of the table until Orlando took over and ran away with the supporter’s shield race mid-season.

Vlatko Andonovski put out his strongest “semi-healthy” lineup. Temwa Chawinga has missed practices and been questionable for the last part of the season. She was nursing a knee injury but the Malawian forward not only started, but she played the full match. Lo Labonta, the heart and soul of Kansas City, was questionable but also started, although she was subbed out at halftime.

Current fans are used to seeing Chawinga tackled, held, and fouled in every possible method. Andonovski has complained about her being targeted. As Temwa started to speed away, Angelina pulled her down and earned a yellow card. Kansas City was understandably worried with Chawinga remaining down for a while in obvious pain.

Kansas City took the lead in the 33rd minute when the Current found Michelle Cooper out wide. The powerful winger controlled the possession and perfectly timed a cross through the box to Debinha. The Brazilian star roofed it for the match’s first goal in the 33rd minute.

Another look at the Cooper cross and Debinha’s goal.

The match continued to be back and forth and the Current only enjoyed the lead for less than ten minutes. Kansas City native Haley McCutcheon made a smart run into the box in the 41st minute. The Orlando midfielder benefitted from a well-timed pass from Ally Watt and slotted it past Almuth Schulte to level the game 1-1.

After the halftime break, Orlando built on the momentum from late in the first half and took the lead in the 53rd minute. Kylie Strom chipped the ball back to the edge of the box where Barbra Banda turned her defender and powered a shot into the back of the net.

Orlando Pride and Brazilian star Marta was determined to make her mark on the game. She easily sliced through the Current defense and added to the Pride scoreline, making it 3-1. It was fortunate for Orlando that Marta padded the lead because late into stoppage time the Current narrowed it back to a one-goal game. Hailie Mace’s shot deflected off the Orlando player’s arm. Referee Danielle Chesky was called to look at VAR and she awarded a penalty. Vanessa DiBernardo put it away to make the score 3-2 in the 103rd minute.

The Current threw everyone forward but could not find another goal. Orlando advances to the final. The Current completes an amazing 2024 season, setting records, opening a stadium, and defining a standard for professional women’s soccer.

 

NWSL Match Report
Match: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current
Date: November 17, 2024
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. CT/3:00 p.m. ET
Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy
Attendance: 14,524

Discipline
28’ Orlando – Angelina (Yellow)
55’ Kansas City – Mace (Yellow)
81’ Orlando – Moorhouse (Yellow)
90+9’ Orlando – Bench (Yellow)
90+9’ Kansas City – Sharples (Yellow)

Scoring
33’ Kansas City – Debinha (Cooper)
41’ Orlando – McCutcheon (Watt)
53’ Orlando – Banda (Strom)
82’ Orlando – Marta (Banda)
90 +13’ Kansas City – DiBernardo (Penalty)

Scoring Summary

Goals 1 2 F
Orlando 1 2 3
Kansas City 1 1 1

Orlando Pride Lineup: Moorhouse, Abello, Strom, Sams, Dyke, (90+7’ Delgado) McCutcheon, Angelina, Adriana (79’ Doyle), Watt (79’ Yates), Banda (87’ Pickett), Marta ©
Unused Substitutes: Crone, Delgado, Lawrence, Gautrat, Lemos, Villacorta

Kansas City Current Lineup: Schult, Wheeler, Sharples, Cook, Mace, Hutton (86’ Feist), LaBonta © (45’ Prince), DiBernardo, Chawinga, Debinha (86’ Hamilton), Cooper (76’ Rodriguez)
Unused Substitutes: Franch, Steigleder, Ball, Scott, Ballisager

Related Topics:

Recent Comments

KC Soccer Journal in your Inbox!

Be the first to know when news breaks, sign up to get all of our posts sent directly to your inbox.

Facebook

Follow us on Twitter