How the KC Current’s Brazilian power duo paved way to home win over Chicago Stars

Like the Proud Mary, the Kansas City Current was rolling on the river during Friday night’s National Women’s Soccer League match at CPKC Stadium.

The Brazilian duo of Debinha and Bia Zaneratto teamed up in the first half to give the Current a 1-0 lead over the Chicago Stars. Zaneratto added a goal of her own thanks to a nifty pass from Temwa Chawinga to start the second half, and things were smooth-sailing at 2-0.

But in the 58th minute, the Current gave up a goal for the first time in 869 minutes of NWSL play.

It didn’t matter.

Chawinga added the hosts’ third goal, Lo LaBonta converted a penalty with the last kick of the match and the Current defeated Chicago 4-1.

The win is Kansas City’s 18th of the season. The team’s goal differential is now +32, with 43 goals scored and just 11 conceded in 22 games. It’s also 15 straight games.

Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski made a series of lineup changes yet again. Michelle Cooper returned to the starting lineup, as did LaBonta, who paired with Bayley Feist in the midfield.

Gabrielle Robinson and Elizabeth Ball started as the center back duo, with Katie Scott making her NWSL debut at right back in the absence of the injured Halie Mace and Kayla Sharples.

Still, the Current maintained a level of dominance that has become expected of this club. Debinha opened the scoring just seven minutes into the game.

“I challenged them before the game to maintain the standards that we have,” Andonovski said. “I wasn’t worried about the result. I told them that before the game.”

Andonovski said he and the players never talk about the need to get a result. That’s remained true, with one caveat: They did so last weekend, when they clinched the NWSL Shield.

“Today, we went back to our normal self, and making sure that we execute the tasks, and we do the right things,” Andonovski explained. “We believe in our process so much that we know that success is inevitable if we do that.”

Current forward Mary Long, who played a big part in the win, said the coaching staff sets high expectations.

“I think we have a good group of leaders on the team who will hold everyone to those standards,” Long said. “Everyone is bought in. Obviously, we’re not just focused on the results, but everyone wants to win.

“When we hold ourselves to those standards, we play so well as a team every time, too. ... I think that’s how you get results. So you don’t have to focus on (getting a result). You just focus on playing like we know how to play.”

A turnover and a quick pass into Zaneratto resulted in a one-touch pass to Debinha, who placed the shot perfectly past Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

Bia picked up her goal thanks to the holdup play of Chawinga. The star winger held off a defender before bringing a long pass down neatly with her first touch, and then turning to play a pass to Zaneratto in on goal. She placed her left-footed shot expertly past Naeher.

Long, who came in as a KC substitute, gave the pass to Chawinga for the reigning NWSL MVP’s 14th goal of the season. The pass was a perfect one-timed through ball for Chawinga, who dribbled through five defenders and snuck a shot past Naeher.

“There were four or five defenders, and it’s like a little area (to shoot) and she finds it,’ Andonovski said. “I’m very proud of her, too. She doesn’t stop growing.”

In the last minute of stoppage time, Alex Pfeiffer carved up Stars defender Ava Cook on the dribble, drawing a foul and earning a penalty kick. Lo LaBonta stepped up to add the cherry on top.

The penalty kick was LaBonta’s 14th converted penalty kick, tying her with Megan Rapinoe for the all-time NWSL record for penalty kicks made.

Up next: The Current travels to Los Angeles for some Monday night football (soccer) action next week. That match, on Oct. 6 against Angel City FC, kicks off at 9:30 p.m. Central.

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

This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM.