Preview: Current needs a win at San Diego

NWSL Matchday 14

Who:  Kansas City Current at San Diego Wave

When: Saturday, Sep 16^th, 2023 at 9:00 p.m. CT

Where: Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego

Watch:  Paramount+: Josh Eastern, Jillian Loyden | KMCI-TV 38 The Spot: Lisa Carlin, Dave Borchardt

Listen: KC Current Radio on the Kansas City Current app

The Kansas City Current (6-11-1, 19 pts.) travel to the west coast to face top of the table San Diego Wave FC (9-6-3, 30 pts). With just four games left in the regular season, the Current’s playoff hopes are underwater and could go down for good versus the Wave. Kansas City is seven points out of sixth place, currently held by the Washington Spirit with 26 points.

Current interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom told media in preparation for the match, “ We know it is going to be a tough game, We have a lot of respect for that team but I think we have a good plan, we have some solutions and we have also been going into details looking at their set pieces. That’s where they score goals.”

With the playoffs looking unlikely, Sjöblom said, “We are focused on what we can control and that is the performance, and the development of players and of this team. Of course we talk about winning games, we know we still have a chance of making the playoffs but maybe we need some help from other teams. So we talk about our own performance and continue to learn how we want to play. We want to be more in possession, and we want to be more aggressive out of possession.”

Two players called up for international duty

Midfielder Debinha (Brazil) and defender Stine Ballisager Pedersen (Denmark) have been called up by their respective teams for the FIFA International Window on September 18-26. Both players will be available for the match in San Diego before joining their national team camps. Denmark will face Germany September 22 at 11 a.m. CT before traveling to play Wales September 26 at 1:15 p.m. CT.

Availability:

Kansas City Current

OUT: 
Michelle Cooper (suspension)

Vanessa DiBernardo (concussion)

Hanna Glas (D45 – knee)

Morgan Gautrat (concussion)

Sam Mewis (SEI – knee)

Desiree Scott (D45 – knee)

Jordan Silkowitz (D45 – hand)

Croix Soto (concussion)

Mallory Weber (SEI – knee)

QUESTIONABLE:

INTERNATIONAL DUTY:

Notes: The Current have multiple players in various stages of the return-to-play protocol so there is not an exact timetable when they will be available.

San Diego FC
OUT:
Abby Dahlkemper (hip)

Kristen McNabb (D45 – hip)

QUESTIONABLE:

 INTERNATIONAL DUTY:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kansas City Current attacker Debinha  – The talented Brazilian has not scored in either match since returning from the World Cup and the Current will need her to add some offense if they can

San Diego Wave attacker Jaedyn Shaw –  Shaw earned her first senior team call-up at the senior level this week when interim head coach Twila Kilgore included the 18-year-old forward in the training camp roster for the upcoming window. Shaw has five goals and two assists goals so far this season in NWSL play.

Officials

Referee: Matthew Corrigan

Assistant Referees: Zeno Cho, Melissa Beck

4th Official: Osvaldo Delgado-Landeros

VAR: Emma Richards

AVAR: Kaili Terry