Match Report: Kansas City Current continue to climb the NWSL table with 1-0 win over OL Reign

The Kansas City Current (5-4-3, 18pts, 5th place) added another win to its streak, making it three straight victories and seven straight unbeaten. Sunday’s 1-0 win over OL Reign (4-3-5, 17pts, 6th place), which featured an 18th-minute penalty kick from Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta as the deciding goal, improved Kansas City to a franchise-best 18 points through 12 matches.  

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“Today we knew we would look a little bit different and be a little bit different than our last matchup,” said head coach Matt Potter. “I think the journey that we’re on as a group is still to be continued, but we definitely like where we’re going. So if we can continue to do the things that we like to do, keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard like we do every day, then hopefully there’s more nights like this in the future.”

Despite the slim 1-0 scoreline, chances came in waves for both sides throughout the match. The game featured 35 combined shots, with the Current notching 17 total shots with five on goal. 

OL Reign controlled the early action, firing multiple shots off net through the first 15 minutes. However, Kansas City quickly flipped the script. Midfielder Victoria Pickett, who ranks second in the NWSL in fouls drawn, picked the ball up near midfield in the 17th minute and went on a weaving run through the Reign defense, drawing a foul in the goal box for a Current penalty kick. LaBonta rocketed the ball to the top right corner to give Kansas City the lead with her third goal of the season.

In the second half, the Current went right to work attempting to double the advantage. Forward Kristen Hamilton went on a searing run down the right flank in the 55th minute and fired a low cross to the feet of forward CeCe Kizer, whose effort sailed just high of the crossbar. Minutes later, defender Alex Loera launched a strike from distance just inches over the crossbar, her second such effort of the match. Later in the second half, Current forwards Elyse Bennett and Kristen Hamilton were both denied goals in consecutive minutes with saves from OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. 

OL Reign nearly found the back of the net in the contest’s waning minutes. In the team’s best opportunity of the second half, Reign forward Ally Watt fired a low shot at Franch from close range in the 89th minute. The reigning NWSL Player of the Week was up to the task, making a kick save to deflect Watt’s effort and preserve a shutout and three points for Kansas City. Thanks in large part to that stop, Franch picked up her third shutout of the season in Sunday’s win. 

The Current next have a well-deserved week off before returning to Children’s Mercy Park for its final match of July against the Orlando Pride on July 31 at 6:00 p.m. CT.

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

NWSL Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs OL Reign  
Date: July 17, 2022
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
Kickoff: 6:07 p.m. CT 
Weather: 85 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 7,246

Discipline

74’ OL Reign - Hiatt

90’ Kansas City - Loera

Scoring
18’ Kansas City – LaBonta (PK)  

Scoring Summary

Goals                   1              2             F

Kansas City        1              0             1

OL Reign            0             0             0

                          
Lineups:
Kansas City: Franch, Edmonds, Ball, Merrick, Loera, Pickett (73’ Curran), LaBonta (87’ McCain), Hamilton, Kizer (63’ Bennett), Mace (88’ Leach), Del Fava

Substitutes Not Used: Miller, Nolf, Rodriguez, Winebrenner

OL Reign: Tullis-Joyce, Barnes, Hiatt, McClernon, Miramontez (88’ Brown), Little, King (77’ Stanton), Fishlock (78’ Heath), Latsko (59’ Watt), Balcer (78’ Athens)

Substitutes Not Used: Canales, Dickey, Ivory, Malonson