April 20, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current kept their home winning streak and overall undefeated streak alive tonight with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Bay FC in the first match ever between these two clubs. Forwards Temwa Chawinga and Bia Zaneratto each had a pair of goals while midfielders Vanessa DiBernardo added a couple assists and Bayley Feist scored her first goal for the Current.
The match started off on a hot note with forward Alexa Spaanstra getting the Current’s first shot on target in the first minute of action as she broke free from the defense. Although the goalkeeper was able to make that save, Current fans would not have to wait long for satisfaction.
Zaneratto intercepted a failed clearance pass less than a minute later and found herself one on one with the goalkeeper. Staring down her opponent, Bia didn’t waste any chance and barrelled a shot into the far netting, giving Kansas City a second minute 1-0 lead.
In the sixth minute, Spaanstra was able to recover a cleared corner kick and sent a second ball cross into the middle of the penalty box. Feist, making her second straight start of the season, jumped over everyone to get her head down on the ball and tuck it into the near post, putting Kansas City up 2-0. The goal was Feist’s first with the club and Spaanstra’s first assist of the season.
With her goal, Feist also became the 10th different player to score a goal for the Current in 2024. No other team has spread the wealth as much in the first five games of a regular season in NWSL history.
Bay FC did scratch one back in the 18th minute. Defender Kayla Sharples, who scored her first career goal earlier this season, connected on an assist from midfielder Deyna Castellanos to get within 2-1. That score held until halftime and was the closest Kansas City would allow Bay to get all night.
“The message to this team at half was, this is not over,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “It’s 0-0, we have 45 minutes. Let’s win the second half. I just believe this was our game and I wanted to win the second half. They felt they could do better in the second half, and it showed.”
DiBernardo continued her dominance of the midfield in this match. Starting the second half she was able to control play and direct traffic to find the best options.
In the 56th minute, the veteran midfielder dribbled the ball to space towards the left half of the field, drawing the entire…