Go Inside KC Soccer with Current’s injury woes, Sporting’s veteran back-line adds

The Kansas City Current has been back in action for a few weeks since the NWSL’s World Cup break.

After recording a convincing win in its first matchup with Denver, the Current fell flat in the second half of what had been a tight contest at Orlando. That 3-0 loss looked very unlike the performances fans have come to expect from the Current in recent seasons.

After a positive first half, the Current was done in by a series of second-half gaffes — three critical moments without the ball.

On the first two Orlando goals, especially, the squad’s defensive effort fell well short of the standard it has set for itself.

Where the Current stumbled in NWSL road loss to Orlando Pride

The Current failed to step up and contest Marta’s 35-yard shot. Then they missed assignments and were caught watching the ball on a Pride corner kick, opening the door for an easy header at the back post.

The third goal had little to no impact on the result, but it’s a mistake you wouldn’t expect starting goalkeeper Lorena to make. She did not play, and such injury absences contributed to the defeat.

Considering results from earlier in the season, it begs the question: Is the Current’s depth sufficient to handle such absences?

While star forward Temwa Chawinga should return to full-strength in short order (illness-related absence), Michelle Cooper and Lorena will likely be out a couple more weeks.

Fortunately, Cooper’s “soft-tissue thigh injury,” as described by KC head coach Chris Armas, isn’t expected to be a long-term thing. Lorena’s hip issues from earlier in the season flared up during the series between the U.S. and her native Brazil in May. But hers is not expected to be a long-term absence, either.

So the prognosis for both is good. In the meantime, however, the Current faces a home match with first-place San Diego followed by a stretch of three games in late July into August.

The return of Debinha and Vanessa DiBernardo helps, but neither is fully fit or in form yet. The Current will have to dig into its depth over the next four games.

The Current plays host to the Wave on Friday at CPKC Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Sporting KC finds experience, leadership qualities in signings

Sporting KC is one of Major League Soccer’s four youngest teams, weighted by minutes played this season. Players on Sporting’s roster have an average age of 25.2.

The club’s three newest additions are older, bringing both experience and potential leadership qualities. Sporting KC this summer has added Colombia center-back Moises Mosquera, Austrian left-back Emir Karic and Israeli center-back Or Blorian.

David Lee, Sporting’s president of soccer operations and general manager, said the above-noted qualities were key factors in the addition of all three men.

“We really try to prioritize players that are in and entering their peak years,” Lee said in a news conference Tuesday, “because that will give us the platform and opportunity to build over a number of years, and build a team rather than needing to sign players maybe slightly on the older end of that spectrum, where you might need to make more significant changes every couple of years.”

The average age of Sporting KC’s back-line is incredibly young — just 22.75, prior to the arrivals of the trio this summer. That group of eight players has 19 combined full seasons on first-team contracts as pros (including Jake Davis’ six years).

The three players added to the roster so far this summer boast a combined 21 pro seasons.

Blorian, 26, captained Hapoel Be’er Sheva to an Israeli cup and league-title double last season. Karic, 29, has played in the German Bundesliga and at Sturm Graz in Austria, a club that demands results.

Winning teams prioritize certain habits, decisions and processes in cultivating their culture. Blorian and Karic should help create, shape and eventually maintain a winning culture in Kansas City.

“We need to lead them to good ways, good energy,” Blorian said Tuesday. “Like (we want) them to understand some moments in the game to be a bit more like killers. Because they know how to play soccer.”

Karic and Blorian said Sporting possesses this quality. But Karic said naivety in decision-making, due to age or inexperience, can sometimes play a role with a younger club.

“Ian (James) is a very young right back, and I see big potential in him,” Karic said. “But in some situations, he has to learn. And I think in my position now — of course there is the coach — but also (it’s on) players like me to show him the way and how to (get) the best out of him.”

Ultimately, all three Sporting KC newcomers know talk means nothing if you don’t back it up.

An update on health and visas

Sporting KC will travel east to take on its rival, St. Louis City, on Thursday night at City Park in St. Louis.

Three KC players did not participate in training on Tuesday: Justin Reynolds, Taylor Calheira and Diego Borges. Sporting coach Raphael Wicky said it was very likely that all three would miss Thursday’s clash.

As for the availability of Sporting’s three new acquisitions, Blorian has received his visa and is clear to play. So is Mosquera, though a lack of fitness will likely mean minimal to no involvement on matchday for him.

Karic has not yet received his P-1 visa, despite being signed before Mosquera — and being more physically ready to contribute minutes. He cannot be registered to play in an MLS match until he gets that visa.

KC Current II to host WPSL semifinals, final this weekend

KC City Current II has reached the semifinals of the WPSL playoffs. Championship weekend will be held at Riverside Stadium in Riverside on Saturday and Sunday.

The semifinals begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, with New York Athletic Club taking on Georgia Impact, followed by KC Current II vs. California Storm at 11:30 a.m.

The winners will advance to play in the championship game at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.