Two big second-half plays by two Brazilian players defined the Kansas City Current’s 1-0 Saturday evening win over Angel City FC.
Kansas City’s injury-depleted roster faced a stiffer-than-expected challenge in the first half. Despite a clear advantage in offensive chances and shots, Angel City frustrated the Current to a scoreless halftime tie.
In the 26th minute, Kayla Sharples got a head on a corner kick, and Michelle Cooper put a hot shot on goal from the right side in the 29th. Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson covered both efforts.
Kansas City’s defense had a mighty first half, not allowing Angel City a shot.
Nine minutes after the half, Angel City unexpectedly had a chance for the lead. Defender Elizabeth Ball fouled Alyssa Thompson in the box, and Thompson took her own shot from the penalty spot.
Current goalkeeper Lorena anticipated the kick, laying out to her right and knocking the ball up, off the crossbar, and out of danger. The save ensured another shutout for Lorena, her sixth of the year, and
Michelle Cooper, who had a strong first half, went down in the 66th minute, and Nichelle Prince subbed on.
In the 69th minute, Claire Hutton ignited a run, playing it up the left side to Izzy Rodriguez. Rodriguez spotted Temwa Chawinga whose unrivalled pace beat two defenders and got her a one-on-one shot against Anderson.
The Angel City goalkeeper prevailed, but only momentarily, as the ball rebounded to Bia Zaneratto just outside the 18-yard box. Zaneratto took two dribbles to settle before blasting the game winner from near the penalty spot.
The goal is Zaneratto’s fifth of the season, matching her production all last season. Chawinga had two prime late chances, but Anderson blocked both.
The win pushes the Current’s streak to six and puts the team eight points clear of Orlando — Kansas City’s 2024 nemesis — in the standings.
“In order to be successful in this league, sometimes you just have to find a way,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovsky after the match, “and I’m very proud of all the players that were focused and concentrated all the way through and found a way.”
