August 2, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current (3-0-0, 9 pts., 1st place Group C) clinched a semifinal spot in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup with a 4-1 victory over Tigres UANL (1-2-0, 3 pts., 3rd place Group C) Thursday night at CPKC Stadium. Kansas City midfielders owned the match, as Lo’eau LaBonta, Claire Hutton and Debinha put up goals for the Current, along with defender Ellie Wheeler. Midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo provided two first-half assists. Hutton’s strike was the first career professional goal for the 18-year-old rookie. With the win, Kansas City earned the Group C crown in the club’s first ever international tournament.
“She (Hutton) kept marching forward, she kept getting better from game to game, she kept proving to herself first and foremost that she’s a good pro. She’s a player that is not just going to represent this team but a player that is ready to represent her country as well”
Completing the Current’s group stage sweep, Kansas City heads to the Aug. 6 semifinals at CPKC Stadium with the maximum possible points. The Current scored three or more goals in each Summer Cup match for a total of 10 goals in three games.
With a Group C win on the line, Kansas City kept the ball flowing in the first half. Starting the action in the seventh minute, defender Hailie Mace intercepted a Tigres pass and lofted the ball toward goal for a diving Debinha, who narrowly missed the back post tap-in.
In the 23rd minute, a foul to forward Michelle Cooper set up DiBernardo for a set piece outside the penalty box. The midfielder served up a textbook ball for LaBonta, who powerfully headed it past Tigres goalkeeper Aurora Santiago to put the Current ahead. Six minutes later, DiBernardo earned her second assist of the game, crossing the ball into Wheeler, who leapt to connect with the cross. Wheeler’s header shook the net for her first goal of the tournament.
In a final first half push, Tigres transitioned to create a shot for forward Stephany Mayor, but goalkeeper AD Franch’s diving save kept the Liga MX Femenil club scoreless through the half.
On the attack in the 56th minute, Tigres forward Thembi Kgatlana dished the ball to midfielder Jacqueline Ovalle, who slid it back to her in the box. Franch stepped to cut off the shot, but Kgatlana’s ball clipped her heel and careened back into the net to make the score 2-1. The Current were not satisfied for long, as Debinha…