Match Report: Franch’s stoppage time heroics extends Kansas City Current’s win streak to six

Just over one week after the Kansas City Current (4-4-3, 15pts, 7th place) earned its first regular season road victory in club history, the Current doubled that total with a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit (1-5-6, 9pts, 11th place) at Segra Field on Sunday evening. A 68th minute goal from second-half substitute Cece Kizer gave the Current the advantage, and a massive penalty kick save from Current goalkeeper AD Franch in second half stoppage time secured three points for the visitors. 

“AD has been fantastic for us all season long, and today just gave her that moment that she truly deserves,” said head coach Matt Potter. “She’s led on a day-to-day basis in the manner that she goes about being AD, whether it be a mother, whether it be at training, whether it be as a team member and now as a performer. When that moment came, we have high expectations for her, and she lived up to those expectations, or in a sense lived into the expectations that we have for her because she’s that good.”

The Current continued making club history with Sunday’s win. Potter’s squad extended its unbeaten streak to a franchise-best six matches, while the win gave Kansas City back-to-back regular season wins for the first time in team history. To top it off, the Current’s 15 points through 11 matches rank just one behind the team’s point total from the entirety of last season. 

Sunday’s match started slowly, though, with neither side separating themselves through the first 45 minutes. Kansas City and Washington combined for six total shots and zero shots on target through the opening half. The Current’s best chance came in the 32nd minute when forward Elyse Bennett was played through on goal down the left side, but her left-footed shot from 10 yards out sailed just over the bar.

The second 45 minutes was a different story. Current forward Kristen Hamilton had two scoring opportunities sail just wide in the 51st and 52nd minute, then Bennett nearly converted a headed goal on a cross from defender Hailie Mace minutes later. The Spirit then went on the offensive, which forced Franch and Kansas City’s back line into action. Franch made athletic stops in the 57th and 61st minute, and defender Kate Del Fava cleared a goal-bound header off the line in the 58th minute. 

Kansas City’s breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute. Following a short throw-in, a Del Fava cross bounced off a Spirit defender in the goal box before finding Kizer’s feet. Kizer did just enough to nod the ball past Washington goalkeeper Devon Kerr to give the Current a 1-0 lead while also marking her second goal for the club. 

The Spirit continued to press down a goal and created the most clear-cut scoring opportunity of the match in second half stoppage time. Forward Tinaya Alexander made a weaving run into Kansas City’s goal box two minutes into added time and drew contact, resulting in the referee calling for a penalty kick. 

Alexander stepped up to take the spot kick and fired a low shot to Franch’s right, but the Current goalkeeper dove and got a firm right hand behind Alexander’s shot. Franch then pounced on the loose ball, and Kansas City saw out the contest from there to preserve the victory. Franch finished Sunday’s contest with four saves and earned her second clean sheet of the regular season. 

Kansas City returns to Children’s Mercy Park for the first time in nearly a month next Sunday, July 17, against OL Reign (4-2-5, 17pts, 4th place) at 6:00 p.m. CT. The match is the first of a two-game homestand for the Current, with the second match coming on July 31 against the Orlando Pride. 

Tickets are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park. For pricing and information visit kansascitycurrent.com.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Kansas City Current  
Date: July 10, 2022
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg, Virginia
Kickoff: 4:09 p.m. CT/5:09 p.m. ET
Weather: 82 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 2,923

Discipline

59’ Kansas City – Bennett

Scoring

68’ Kansas City – Kizer

Scoring Summary

Goals                   1        2        F

Washington      0        0       0

Kansas City       0        1        1

                          
Lineups:
Washington: Kerr, Roddar (44’ Biegalski (80’ Harding)), Staab, Brooks, Heilferty, Bailey, Aylmer (67’ Vincent), Sheva, Feist, Baggett (67’ Alexander), McKeown (80’ Collins)

Substitutes Not Used: Barnhart, Fields, Rodriguez

Kansas City: Franch, Edmonds, Ball, Merrick (63’ Rogriguez), Loera (76’ Curran), Pickett, LaBonta (76’ Leach), Hamilton, Bennett (63’ Kizer), Mace (88’ McCain), Del Fava

Substitutes Not Used: Miller, Nolf, Winebrenner