Scoring dries up as Kansas City Current lose to San Diego Wave at Children’s Mercy Park

The Kansas City Current broke their attendance record again as a crowd of 12,969 turned out for a Mother’s Day match against the San Diego Wave at Children’s Mercy Park.

But as has been customary during matches in which the Current break their own attendance record, they failed to win.

An Alex Morgan shot that resulted in an own-goal and an easy finish for San Diego’s Belle Briede gave the Wave a 2-0 Sunday victory.

The Current are now 0-3-2 at games in which they re-set their high-water mark for attendance.

“We had so many chances,” interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom said. “I don’t think that 2-0 is showing how the game looked on the pitch today. I’m really disappointed.”

For the second match in a row, the Current (0-2-5) started strong and created multiple goal-scoring chances. KC’s Cece Kizer had a 1v1 with the San Diego goalkeeper, for instance, but couldn’t beat Kailen Sheridan.

Eventually, the Current faded and the Wave created their own scoring opportunities. In the 26th minute, a deflection fell right to unmarked San Diego superstar Morgan — whose shot caromed off the post, then off the back of Current keeper AD Franch, and then into the Current’s goal.

Just before halftime, a slew of giveaways presented a chance in the box for the Wave. As Kizer came back to defend, she picked up a loose ball and tried to dribble out of pressure. Instead, she turned it over to Christen Westphal inside the 18-yard box.

Westphal connected with a wide-open Briede, who shot with accuracy into an empty net.

“We don’t need to force passes forward,” Sjöblom said. “We don’t need to go in transition mode, but I think the players feel like we have an opportunity. There are big gaps, there’s space, so that’s why they speed up.”

Things improved in the second half in that regard, but the damage was already done.

“I think we didn’t force things as much, and once we got into their half we really kind of swung the ball around and waited for our opportunities,” Current midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo said. “It would’ve been nice to capitalize on one earlier in the half, or at all. But I think we showed growth from the first half to the second half.”

The Current fired 20 shots at San Diego’s net on Sunday but put just four on target. Sheridan’s most impressive save of the evening came on Debinha’s nearly ideal free kick. It looked destined for the top corner, but Sheridan kept it out.

So while the Current’s shots on goal were not high in number, they were of high quality. The Current had 1.39 xG.

“I think that’s why we’re so upset and frustrated and disappointed,” KC veteran Lo LaBonta said. “We did feel like we dominated, and maybe we were the better team. But at the end of the day, that’s soccer. That’s why you play the game.”

The Current hit the road next, traveling to Louisville for a Challenge Cup match on Wednesday. And then, in a scheduling quirk, they turn around and play host to Louisville on Saturday night in an NWSL game.

This story was originally published May 14, 2023 at 7:07 PM.