The Kansas City Current will play in the NWSL x Liga MX final after win vs. Courage
For the third straight year, the Kansas City Current and North Carolina Courage faced off in the semifinal round of the NWSL’s in-season knockout tournament. And for the first time, KC is moving on after a 2-0 win.
In 2022 and 2023, the Current lost 2-1 and 1-0 to the Courage in the NWSL Challenge Cup semifinals. This year’s match followed a different story.
“Someone said they posted that they have beaten us in semis at our home numerous times,” Current captain Lo LaBonta said after the match. “That definitely gave some of us who’ve got the dog in us a little bit more of an edge — (especially) to do it here and win at home in front of our fans.”
Temwa Chawinga returned and scored less than two minutes into the match. Debinha added a second goal late in the second half as the Current advanced to the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup final.
Chawinga, in fact, could’ve scored even earlier. Just 45 seconds in, she took the ball from midfield and nearly scored. A minute later, she finished a chance, picking up a loose ball in the box and shooting low and hard through traffic for a 1-0 lead at CPKC Stadium.
“When you come into an environment like this and you have the crowd behind you and a fresh Chawinga, that’s not good for anybody,” Courage coach Sean Nahas said.
North Carolina did little to threaten the Current goal. The best chance for the visitors came just before the Current extended their lead, when goalkeeper AD Franch saved Ashley Sanchez’s nifty turn and shot in the box. North Carolina had only two shots on target the whole match.
In the 78th minute, Debinha scored her fourth goal of the NWSL Summer Cup, converting a rebounded shot from Chawinga.
Debinha said she’s starting to feel more and more like herself, thanks in part to the Summer Cup.
“Unfortunately (with) the injury at the beginning of the season, it was a slow process, but I’m feeling better,” Debinha said. “I’m thankful for my team that makes me feel good and comfortable every game. So yeah, I’m gonna keep working and try my best to help my team.”
Current coach Vlatko Andonovski has spoken about using the season to build and prepare for the postseason — and a potential run toward a championship. And while the Current still has the remainder of the regular season ahead, the players were able to get experience in a playoff-like match that may prove valuable down the road.
That said, Andonovski said the Current didn’t approach this match any differently.
“We don’t talk about winning and losing,” Andonovski said. “We don’t talk about the importance of the game. We just talk about the importance of executing the game plan, implementing principles and sticking to our identity. Those are the things that we talk about because we believe that if we do that, if we stick to who we are, if we do what we do best … the outcome is going to be a success. I think it showed today.”
The Current advances to the final against New Jersey/New York Gotham FC after Gotham defeated Angel City 1-0 earlier in the day at CPKC Stadium. However, there will be a bit of a wait before then.
The Summer Cup final will be played in the fall, with that match slated for October 25 from Toyota Field in San Antonio.
The Current’s next match is August 14, when it faces the Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the Women’s Cup.
Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 10:53 PM.