April 22, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current return to Children’s Mercy Park Sunday, April 23 to face the Orlando Pride at 4 p.m. CT. The match will be the third in eight days for the Current after playing last Saturday in Chicago, then opening the 2023 UKG Challenge Cup in Houston Wednesday. Sunday’s match will air live on Paramount+ with an audio stream on KC Current Radio, available on the Kansas City Current mobile app.
A busy week for the Current began with a road trip to Chicago last Saturday. The team fell behind 4-0 early but showed resiliency with midfielder Debinha’s first goal for the club, followed by forward Mimmi Larsson’s first NWSL goal. Larsson also provided the assist on Debinha’s goal.
Wednesday saw the Current opening up UKG NWSL Challenge Cup play at the Houston Dash. Heading into the match, the club announced it had parted ways with head coach Matt Potter and appointed Caroline Sjöblom as Interim Head Coach.
The players focused on the task at hand and earned their fourth consecutive win over the Dash. Forward Cece Kizer scored the club’s first brace in history with goals in the 36th minute (assisted by midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta) and 66th minute (assisted by defender Kate Del Fava). Goalkeeper Cassie Miller earned the start in the net and made four saves on her way to her third career clean sheet with Kansas City.
The Orlando Pride, like the Current, are still seeking the first regular season win for 2023. The team battled with NJ/NY Gotham for over 90 minutes last Saturday, but two very late goals (90’+10, 90’+17) from Gotham sent the Pride to the club’s third straight defeat. In their Challenge Cup opener against the North Carolina Courage at home Wednesday, Orlando took the lead shortly after halftime on a strike from Ally Watt, however another stoppage time score (90’+9) forced the team to split the points.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas City Current defender Kate Del Fava – Del Fava has started 25 straight matches for the Current across all competitions after only starting nine total matches prior to 2022. Her steady play on the wing in Wednesday’s Challenge Cup match helped the defense earn the first clean sheet of the season and she earned her first career assist in the second half as she sent a cross behind the defense that only Kizer was able reach.
Orlando Pride forward Marta – While the Current has added Brazilian star Debinha to its roster this…