The Kansas City Current came up just short in the team’s bid to make the NWSL championship game, losing 3-2 in the semifinal game at Orlando’s Inter & Co Stadium.
Kansas City got on the board first in the 34th minute on a goal from Debinha, set up at the back post with a cross from Michelle Cooper at the endline.
Orlando responded just before the half with a goal from midfielder Haley McCutcheon, assisted by Ally Watt.
The match remained level through halftime, but Barbra Banda put Orlando in front eight minutes into the second half.
With ten minutes left in regulation, Orlando took advantage of Kansas City pushing forward for an equalizer, with Banda starting a counter that ended with Marta giving the home side a two goal advantage.
A suspicious rash of cramps and minor injuries plagued Orlando in the second half, requiring frequent and lengthy visits from the trainer, and the dilatory tactics pushed the announced stoppage time to twelve minutes.
Ten minutes into the added time, Kansas City got a reprieve when Orlando defender Kerry Abello handed a Hailie Mace shot in the penalty area. Vanessa DiBernardo converted the penalty, but there was no time to celebrate, only to hustle the ball back to the center and restart.
Kansas City pressed for a goal in the extended stoppage, but late shots from Ellie Wheeler, Kayla Sharples, and Temwa Chawinga were narrowly off target.
The crowd grew restive with the final whistle’s delay, but set off a raucous celebration when it sounded, sending the purple and gold to the NWSL Cup final, ironically to be played in Kansas City’s CPKC Stadium.
After the match, head coach Vlatko Andonovski reflected on the positives from a year that saw the Current open its new stadium and rewrite its record books. The club’s 16 wins and 55 total points were team records, and 57 goals set a new league record. In addition, the team won non-league tournaments at the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and the Women’s Cup
“I thought we did some incredible things,” said Andonovski, “and I’m proud of them for all the successes they’ve had, whether it was winning games, tournaments and successes on the field but also for everything they’ve done off the field. I think it has definitely changed the face of the organization, they’ve connected with the fans, they’ve created something. They’ve really brought joy to the city, and that’s what I’m proud of them for.”
