October 30, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The #5 Kansas City Current’s historic 2022 campaign concluded Saturday night with a 2-0 loss to the #2 Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship in Washington, D.C. Thorns forward and 2022 NWSL MVP Sophia Smith opened the scoring with a goal in the fourth minute, and Portland doubled its advantage with an own goal scored in the 56th minute. Current goalkeeper AD Franch recorded five saves in the contest.
“All losses at this stage in the season are tough to manage,” said head coach Matt Potter. “But, again, I point to the way the group just still tried to carry the cause for the people in the stands, to represent Kansas City in the appropriate manner. I couldn’t be prouder for the for that.”
Making its fourth all-time appearance in an NWSL Championship, a seasoned Thorns squad used its experience in the early going to take a 1-0 lead. After a few early Portland chances were blocked by Kansas City’s defense, the Thorns sprung a counterattack after a Current turnover in the fourth minute. Forward Rocky Rodriguez sent a long ball forward that Smith ran on to, and she evaded Kansas City’s back line to set up a one-on-one opportunity against Franch. Smith dribbled around Franch and slotted the ball into an empty net to open the scoring. Smith nearly doubled Portland’s lead 10 minutes later, but her curling effort from inside the penalty area went just wide.
Kansas City began to grow into the match following Smith’s near goal in the 14th minute and started to apply pressure on Portland’s back line. The team’s best chance of the opening half and the match came in the 34th minute. After winning a foul near midfield, Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta took the ensuing free kick quickly and pushed the ball out wide to defender Hailie Mace. Mace lobbed a cross to the back post to fellow defender Kate Del Fava, who met the ball with her head and looped a header over the head of Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby. However, the effort narrowly sailed over the crossbar to keep the match at 1-0.
The Current continued to push for an equalizer as the first half wore on. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta had a shot from outside the penalty area blocked in first-half stoppage time which led to a Current corner, but nothing came of the opportunity and Portland maintained a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Smith again nearly doubled Portland’s lead…