October 28, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – One season removed from a last place finish in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the #5 Kansas City Current are in the NWSL Championship. Standing between the Current’s quest to seal the greatest single-season turnaround in league history with a championship is the #2 Portland Thorns, who Kansas City faces at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Saturday, Oct. 29. Saturday’s match kicks off at 7 p.m. CT and will be nationally televised on CBS. The match will also be streamed on Paramount+.
Kansas City picked up yet another road playoff victory last weekend, handing the #1 OL Reign just its second home loss across all competitions in 2022 last Sunday at Lumen Field. The Current’s 2-0 victory was a quintessential team display of timely offense, stout defense and excellent goalkeeping. For the second consecutive match the Current took an early lead, as rookie defender Alex Loera opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Kansas City goalkeeper AD Franch made several spectacular saves over the remainder of the contest to maintain the team’s one-goal advantage, and forward Kristen Hamilton provided the insurance goal in the 63rd minute. The shutout victory tied Franch with former Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart for the most playoff shutouts in NWSL history. Franch had seven saves in the semifinal victory, eclipsing Barnhart for the most playoff saves in league history.
Portland reached the NWSL Championship in thrilling fashion, defeating the San Diego Wave 2-1 in a come-from-behind effort at Providence Park last Sunday. San Diego went up early after midfielder Taylor Kornieck broke free from Portland’s back line and headed in a cross from San Diego forward Alex Morgan in the eighth minute. The Thorns responded quickly, as forward Rocky Rodríguez volleyed in a thunderous strike from outside the penalty area to level the match in the 21st minute. Neither team could break through for the next 70 minutes of action, but Portland found a winner in second-half stoppage time when midfielder Crystal Dunn hammered home a loose ball in the penalty area. Dunn’s goal, her first of the 2022 campaign, proved to be the game-winner as the Thorns advanced to their fourth NWSL Championship in franchise history.
NEXT PLAYER UP
Head coach Matt Potter praised the Current’s overall depth following the victory over OL Reign, and for good reason. Forward Claire…