July 20, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current (1-0-0, 3 pts., 2nd place Group C) opened the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup with a victory Saturday night, as midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta’s game-winning goal in the 68th minute helped Kansas City earn a 3-1 victory against the Houston Dash (0-1-0, 0 pts, 4th place Group C) at CPKC Stadium. The win helped Kansas City keep pace in Group C after Tigres UANL took down Pachuca 4-2 on Friday.
Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper opened the scoring 55 seconds into the first half. Cooper now owns the two fastest goals scored in club history after notching a score in 22 seconds last season. LaBonta provided the game-winner, and forward Kristen Hamilton returned to action with a crucial insurance goal as the Current christened its first-ever international tournament with a victory.
“We just take it one game at a time,” said head coach Vlatko Andonoski. “Obviously, we wanted to win this one, we did, now Pachuca is our next game and it’s the most important game for us. Once we’re done with that one, we’re going to focus on Tigres.”
The Current showed little signs of rust following a two-week break, scoring 55 seconds into the first half on a brilliant team move. Defender Izzy Rodriguez fired a direct pass down the left side of Houston’s defense that met forward Temwa Chawinga in stride. Chawinga made it down to the end line and fired a left-footed cross to the penalty spot that found Cooper, who fired a near-post strike beating Dash goalkeeper Erin McKinney. Cooper’s goal marked Kansas City’s first in international tournament play.
Kansas City nearly doubled the lead in the sixth minute with a header from midfielder Bayley Feist. The veteran midfielder rose above McKinney and got her head on a cross from the right side, but her effort struck the crossbar. The Current generated plenty of chances throughout the first half, but Houston found the second goal of the contest in the 20th minute. Dash midfielder Yuki Nagasato intercepted a loose ball in midfield, took a few touches forward then fired a long-range effort off the post and into the back of the net for the equalizer.
Following the Houston score, Cooper went to work in search of the go-ahead goal. She struck the post in the 32nd minute following a Current corner kick and had another effort sail just high of goal in the 38th minute. Two minutes later, Kansas City goalkeeper AD Franch made…