KC Current Lose World Sevens Opener to Flamengo

With the NWSL season coming to an end all too early for Kansas City Current fans, a chance for redemption was just weeks away. That day arrived when the KC Current played Brazilian side Flamengo in the second ever World Sevens Football tournament. Despite an early lead, Kansas City would ultimately fall to Flamengo 3-2.

The game got off to a fast start for the NWSL Shield winners with young up-and-comer Alex Pfeiffer scoring the opening goal in just the second minute. It was the first goal of the entire competition.

The lead would grow quickly as the KC Current were all over Flamengo. A nice combination found typical outside back Ellie Wheeler in the box to drive home a goal to put the Current up 2-0 in just the fifth minute. It really looked like KC were going to run away with things.

After that, Flamengo really took over. The frantic early pace of the Current was offset by the quick, technical play of their Brazilian counterparts. In the 11th minute, Flamengo’s consistent pressure created their first goal. Ju Ferreira pulled one back and gave her team life. On the precipice of halftime, Flamengo took advantage of the rule that there is no offside when they snuck in behind to get another goal to level it 2-2 at the half. This time it was Gláucia, who would add to her tally later.

Immediately out of the half, Flamengo found another goal, which would turn out to be the game winner.

The Current had numerous chances to level the game, with no better chance than when Flamengo turned the ball over in their own half. Pfeiffer tried to blast the ball, and she hit the post before careening out of bounds. A simple pass to a wide-open Haley Hopkins probably ties it. No blame on Pfeiffer though, as many players missed big chances. Ally Sentnor dribbled the keeper and was wide open and her touch went out of bounds. Many others missed that final pass to setup goals that were almost certain to find the back of the net.

Physical Play

What is unclear is if the games have any cards. There were some very dicey challenges that just resulted in common fouls. Hopkins had a late slide on the Flamengo GK, Holzel, and clipped her leg after the ball was gone. Just a foul. In the second half, Sentnor was off to the races on a breakaway and was pulled down from behind. Just a foul. On the edge of the box, Pfeiffer was absolutely crushed with a reckless tackle. All three should have easily been yellow cards but nothing was given.

After the Sentnor foul, KC Current II player Sydney Jones literally brought the ref a yellow card, like she had forgot it. But it wasn’t issued. Former KC Soccer Journal contributor Aly Trost-Martin is one of the commentators and she mentioned, “we haven’t seen any cards yet,” so presumably there are cards. If those three challenges aren’t worth yellows, it may be more about worrying about the health of the players than winning the tournament.

In the second game a San Diego Wave player literally dropped a knee on the ankle of the Deportivo Cali goalkeeper. It looked like it could break an ankle, and it was just a foul. If someone gets seriously hurt, the World Sevens will look terrible no matter the $5 million in prize money.

What Went Wrong for KC?

After that 2-0 start, it looked like nothing would go wrong. However, they couldn’t keep up the pace they were playing at, despite the rolling, unlimited substitutions.

Beyond that, they didn’t take advantage of the rules of the game and Flamengo did. In particular, quick restarts and the lack of an offside rule. Kansas City were hesitant to play quite a few passes that would have been “offside” in traditional soccer but would have left players wide open for goals. The same can’t be said for Flamengo, who fully took advantage.

The same for the quick restarts. KC would let their guard down and Flamengo would take quick throws or quick free kicks and constantly left KC scrambling. There is also the throw-in rule designed to make the game play fast. Players have seven seconds once the ball is in their hands. Flamengo used the dark arts once they were ahead to simply not pick the ball up quickly, to keep the seven seconds from starting.

Beyond that, Flamengo was the more technical side. They played better in tight spaces and quicker passes. The Current could have used their Brazilians, Debinha and Bia, for that type of play. Not to mention their USWNT wonderkid, Claire Hutton.

KANSAS CITY CURRENT STARTING 7:

#26 Tyler McCamey (GK), #2 Regan Steigleder, #5 Ellie Wheeler, #7 Elizabeth Ball, #10 Lo’eau LaBonta (C), #25 Kristen Hamilton, #47 Alex Pfeiffer

SUBS: #13 Haley Hopkins, #21 Ally Sentnor, #22 Bayley Feist, #24 Gabrielle Robinson, #54 Kayla Colbert, #56 Sydney Jones, #65 Alexa Goldberg (GK)

FLAMENGO STARTING 7:

#17 Vivi Holzel (GK), #2 Monalisa Belem, #5 Thaisa Moreno (C), #8 Djeni, #10 Gláucia, #11 Cristiane, #28 Ju Ferreira

SUBS: #13 Leidiane, #16 Flavia Mota, #23 Karol Alves (GK), #31 Laysa, #32 Fernandinha, #43 Mariana Fernandes, #81 Jucinara Paz

Upcoming Games

The KC Current have two more guaranteed games as they work to advance out of the group stage.

• Saturday, Dec. 6th at 11:30AM vs. Tigres (TNT)
• Saturday, Dec. 6th at 3:30PM vs. AFC Toronto (truTV)

They need to win them both (there are no ties in World Sevens) to get out of the group. If they do, the semifinals, third place and championship games are all on Sunday.

After the game they talked to the first goal scorer of the tournament, Alex Pfeiffer and she was confident in Kansas City going forward. “We’re gonna bounce back from today and be ready to go tomorrow,” said Pfeiffer. Alex also talked about how they were preparing for this seven-on-seven format before everyone left for their various National Team camps. Playing in the first game was probably a bit of a disadvantage, but hopefully the team adjusts for tomorrow.