The Kansas City CurrentDefeated OL Reign 2-0 on Sunday, advancing to the NWSL championship for the first time in the franchise’s history.
Mirroring the day’s earlier Thorns – Wave semifinalThe Kansas City Current also scored early in their semifinal match against OL Reign.
Alex Loera attacked the Reign box with a loose ball and punished them for not properly clearing the ball. However, the play actually started from Lu Barnes’ failed clearance moments earlier. It was a good indicator of what the rest of this game would look like.
Both teams battled in a transitional period, but neither side was able to break through. With a last-minute stop at halftime, AD Franch, the current goalkeeper, ensured that things stayed at 1-0.
The Finale is here! @thekccurrentThe technology has advanced to the #NWSLOne year after being last in the league, championship final.
📆KC vs. Portland Thorns | Saturday 10/29 | 8 p.m. ET pic.twitter.com/47NKECkF2l
— The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) October 24, 2022
French showed great skill in the second half. In the 56th minute, she slipped and stretched to block a ball with her left arm. Jess Fishlock after a giveaway from the Current’s Desiree ScottThis triggered a Reign counter.
Kristen HamiltonThe Current’s team played well and the Reign had some disorganized defense, but the current broke through in the 63rd minutes. Franch hit a nice shot into the middlefield. Elyse Bennett won the first ball, which played in Lo’eau LaBonta. LaBonta found Hamilton and continued her run, dragging the Reign’s defense a little bit open. Hamilton pushed back her defender and smashed into the gap with a great strike to make it 2-0.
In the 74th minute, the Reign protested a goal line clearance. They claimed that the ball crossed the line and was not cleared by Loera in time. However, the goal was not given because there wasn’t enough goal-line technology available to confirm it.
The Current managed the game well and brought on defensive substitutions late in the game. They also made sure to slow down the Reign’s play in front of their centre backs. The Reign couldn’t find a way through and were ultimately undone not just by a lack of scoring, but by some rough defending as well. The Current will now play the Portland ThornsIn the NWSL championship at Audi Field, Oct. 29.
(Photo: Anne-Marie Sorvin / USA Today)
