Wild final day of 2023 NWSL regular season included dramatic KC Current comeback

The Kansas City Current tried their hardest to play spoiler during the final day of the NWSL regular season.

Down two goals just 15 minutes into their match against Gotham FC, the Current clawed back thanks to a brilliant goal from Alexa Spaanstra and, later on, an own goal to finish off a 2-2 draw.

The result meant that Gotham earned the final playoff spot on the goal-differential tiebreaker.

Multiple postseason scenarios were at play throughout the day. Nearly every goal, save and red card affected another team’s playoff hopes or positioning — even in this match, though the Current were already eliminated from playoff contention.

Elsewhere, the San Diego Wave clinched the NWSL Shield, given to the team with the best record throughout the regular season, with a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville. Angel City FC leapfrogged multiple teams into the fifth playoff spot with a 5-1 drubbing of the Portland Thorns.

The Washington Spirit were the only team that started the day in playoff position and finished on the outside looking in. A 1-0 loss at home to the North Carolina Courage was nearly as shocking as U.S. Women’s National Team star Trinity Rodman’s red card less than 20 minutes into the match.

As for the KC-Gotham match...

“We knew that Gotham was chasing for the playoffs and they came with a lot of pressure,” Interim coach Caroline Sjöblom said. “It was the mentality that (we) decided: ‘We are not giving up this easy tonight.’”

The Gotham started their day on fire — holding a 2-0 lead at home in New Jersey. Both of Gotham’s goals were efforts that capitalized on Current mistakes.

The Current played into Gotham’s press and committed turnovers, which turned into opportunities for Midge Purce and Yazmeen Ryan.

Even so, there was still plenty of work to do: Purce beat Current goalkeeper AD Franch from outside the box, and Ryan dribbled through multiple Current defenders before ripping a shot off the post and into the net.

Spaanstra conjured up another special late-season moment with a skillful dribble and curling shot that found the top corner over Gotham goalkeeper Mandy Haught.

Spaanstra said afterward she saw more one-on-one opportunities unfolding within the flow of the game. She has been gaining confidence in that area of late.

“I’m just taking what the game gives me and trying to find crosses or cutting inside,” Spaanstra said. “Then I just tried to lace it in the corner. So it worked out for the best.”

The assist for Spaanstra’s goal went to Alex Loera. It was her third assist in the last two games while playing as a defensive midfielder.

Loera has enjoyed playing that role after spending much of her college days and rookie season as a center back.

“It’s just fun to kind of control the tempo of the game and find yourself involved in every play,” Loera said.

The own goal that tied the score came off a Debinha cross, which Jenna Nighswonger kicked into her own net.

The Current ended the season in 11th place with 26 points — 8 wins, 2 draws, and 12 losses. While the club is disappointed to miss postseason play, Sjöblom said she felt the players have grown a lot in the possession style she wants to play.

“I think we play an attractive (style of) soccer,” Sjöblom said. “Something that I stand for and what I believe in.”

This story was originally published October 15, 2023 at 6:44 PM.