September 28, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current (12-3-7, 43pts., 4th place) capped a two-match homestand with a 1-1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC (13-4-5, 44pts., 3rd place) Saturday afternoon at CPKC Stadium. The contest marked the second consecutive 1-1 draw between the sides in the 2024 NWSL regular season, as the Current and Gotham FC played to a 1-1 stalemate April 14 in New Jersey.
After Gotham FC opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, Current forward Temwa Chawinga found an equalizer in the opening minutes of the second half. The goal marked Chawinga’s 17th of the regular season, and Chawinga is one goal away from matching the NWSL regular season scoring record. Chawinga’s goal came in the 52nd minute, and neither side could find the deciding goal as the match ended level.
Saturday’s contest was the final contest of a three-match stretch for the Current in which the club played each of the top three squads on the NWSL table. Following Saturday’s draw, Kansas City formally wrapped that part of the season with a 1-0-2 record.
“The fact that we played three of the best teams in the league, currently, and they didn’t score a goal on us is a great step forward for the team,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “It comes at a crucial time in preparation for playoffs. So that’s the first thing that stands out. And then the fact that on the other side, we’ve created opportunities and scored goals obviously against some great defenses, goalkeepers and great teams is another positive thing.”
The match got off to a slow start, with defenses largely ruling the opening 20 minutes of the contest. Kansas City’s best chance of the early going came in the 16th minute, when an excellent Current passing sequence was capped by Chawinga sliding a pass to forward Michelle Cooper. Cooper fired a shot that sailed just high of goal as the match remained scoreless.
In the 23rd minute, the visitors opened the scoring. Following a Gotham FC corner kick, midfielder Yazmeen Ryan received a second-chance opportunity to serve a ball into the Current’s penalty area. Although Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper seemed to have the line on the initial career, a collision between her and the referee allowed Gotham the chance to get on the ball and pass wide to Ryan. From there, Ryan’s cross took a deflection off a Current defender and rolled into the back of the net to put Gotham FC up 1-0.
Gotham FC maintained…