May 12, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current (6-0-3, 21 pts., 1st place) remain undefeated and regain the top spot in the NWSL table as they defeated the North Carolina Courage (4-5-0, 12 pts., 6th) 1-0 at CPKC Stadium Sunday evening. Veteran midfielder Lo LaBonta made her fourth start of the season and hit a career milestone of ten thousand minutes played. Forward Debinha returned to the starting lineup and scored her first goal of the season to clinch the victory for Kansas City.
“The things we talked a lot about is the importance of winning games 1-0,” said Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “5-2 is great, 4-2, 5-3, they’re all great, but 1-0 it just strengthens the character and mentality of the team and prepares them for tough matches. Which, there are going to be a lot in the regular season and hopefully in the postseason.”
Four minutes into a rainy first half, veteran midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta hit a career milestone with 10,000 minutes played, becoming only the 51st player in NWSL history to do so.
KC goalkeeper AD Franch posted her second clean sheet of the season and in the eleventh minute made a great diving tip save, outstretched to the near side of the net, one of her two saves on the afternoon.
With 21 shots and eight on target, the Current were relentless. Forward Temwa Chawinga had plenty of opportunities in the match. She alone had eight shots in this game, the highest total for a Kansas City Current player this season. In the 14th minute Chawinga zig-zagged through two defenders making them miss her with a shot to the right corner of the box, forcing the Courage goalkeeper to stretch out to make a save.
Debinha made her first start since returning from injury and was on the hunt for a goal. In the 31st minute she took a shot at the top of the penalty box, far post, that was deflected just wide. Chawinga would take another shot after breaking through two defenders in the 36th minute, but the ball just skimmed past the goal.
The rain slowed and came to a halt as the two teams went into halftime with a scoreless draw, the first time the Current had been held scoreless in the first half at CPKC Stadium.
In the 52nd minute the Current’s relentless pursuit paid off. Chawinga drove toward the goal from the left side. She sent a curling shot to the far post, but North Carolina’s goalkeeper was just able to get her hand on it and deflect it across the…