Kansas City Current record Challenge Cup road victory over Red Stars in Chicago
The Kansas City Current remained unbeaten through two games in 2022 after besting the Red Stars 2-1 in an NWSL Challenge Cup match at Chicago Friday night.
And they did it after trailing into the second half.
The victory, powered by goals from Hailie Mace and Kristen Hamilton, pushes the Current’s record to 1-0-1. Mace’s long-range stunner brought the visitors level, and Hamilton got on the end of a deflected cross to give KC the lead in the 85th minute.
The first 50 minutes were nothing to write home about. The Red Stars dominated possession and the chances. A deflected shot from Chicago’s Vanessa DiBernardo ended up in the back of the net to give the Red Stars a 1-0 lead that stood into halftime.
That’s where a tactical adjustment and a pep talk from co-captain Desiree Scott changed the tide. Current coach Matt Potter and his players felt they weren’t winning enough 50-50 balls, chances where you simply have to get there first. Potter said the team felt like it was playing a step behind the Red Stars.
“I think in the first half, everybody would agree that we lacked little urgency, a little bit of bite to us,” Hamilton said. “We got into the locker room and Des said we just needed a little bit of bite, and then obviously some tactical adjustments.”
The adjustments came courtesy of Potter.
“We made a tactical adjustment playing with two sixes instead of a single six, so that helped balance us a little bit,” he said. “We found a way to come back into the game and probably Chicago leaves disappointed and maybe doesn’t think we deserve to win.”
Slowly and surely, the Current built their way back into the match as the second half unfolded. Their combination play and chance creation started to show dividends in the 50th minute, leading to the equalizer.
Mace’s goal was a moment of brilliance. Taking the ball at the top of the 18, she picked out the top corner and sent a screamer past Red Stars keeper Alyssa Naeher. Mace turned 25 on Thursday, and Potter told her in the locker room before Friday night’s game that she needed to score a birthday goal.
“At training the day before the game I asked him if I could do some shooting because I usually end up on top of the box frequently,” Mace said. “And so it paid off, I guess.”
The Current’s self-determination showed up after that. They grew into the match until setting up the winner. The ball recycled out to the top of the box following a set-piece, and Mace chipped it over the top to Hamilton, who roofed the winner.
The win was the Current’s first road victory in franchise history, and Potter’s first win as a head coach in women’s pro soccer. He’s long coached at the national-team level and in the college ranks, but this is his first season leading an NWSL team.
“You always remember your firsts,” Potter said. “I’m delighted. It’s good that it’s the first, but hopefully it’s not the last.”
The Current, who now occupy first place in the Central Division of the NWSL Challenge Cup (four points), play two more Challenge Cup matches in the coming week: at Houston Wednesday and home, for their Challenge Cup opener at Children’s Mercy Park, on Saturday, April 2.
This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 9:36 PM with the headline "Kansas City Current record Challenge Cup road victory over Red Stars in Chicago."