Match Report: Kansas City Current defeat Houston Dash 2-1 | Presented by Nebraska Furniture Mart

The Kansas City Current reclaimed first place in the Central Division of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win over the Houston Dash on Friday night in front of a crowd of over 5,000 fans at Children’s Mercy Park. 

“Obviously, nothing like a home win,” said head coach Matt Potter. “Delighted with the result. Incredible again with the noise, the atmosphere and the fanbase was fantastic all the way through and certainly helped towards the end of the game. That was the first thing we wanted to do when the game ended, was go celebrate with the people that matter.” 

The Current kicked things off with an early goal in the fourth minute. Rookie midfielder Izzy Rodriguez, making her first professional start, found herself on the end of a ball kept in bounds by forward Elyse Bennett. Rodriguez crossed it through the penalty box to find forward Kristen Hamilton, who headed it past the Houston goalkeeper. It was Rodriguez’s first career assist. 

The Dash nearly answered in the 28th minute when defender Michelle Alonzie found herself open on the right flank. Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch made a diving save to keep the lead for Kansas City. 

However, Kansas City native Shea Groom tied the score for the Dash in the 59th minute, finding herself on the end of a long cross from Maria Sànchez. Her shot slid underneath Franch to tie the game. 

Just three minutes after being subbed on, midfielder Victoria Pickett retook the lead for Kansas City in the 80th minute. A free kick for the Current from Edmonds found Chardonnay Curran in the box, who fought to keep the ball before it deflected off the back line and fell to the feet of Pickett. Pickett’s shot sailed through the legs of goalkeeper Jane Campbell for the Current’s game winner. 

“It’s a team effort and it’s going to take every single one of us,” said midfielder Victoria Pickett. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in the starting eleven or coming off the bench or if you’re in the stands. Everyone plays a huge part on this team. I think it’s great that we have that type of chemistry, both on and off the pitch.”

With 10 points (3-1-1), the Current lead the Central Division of the NWSL Challenge Cup. They’ll take on second place Chicago Red Stars at home on Sunday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. Season Tickets and Flex plans are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park. For pricing and information visit www.kansascitycurrent.com.

NWSL Challenge Cup Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs Houston Dash
Date: April 15, 2022
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas 
Kickoff: 7:08 p.m. CT / 8:08 p.m. ET
Weather: 57 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 5,022

Discipline
36’ Kansas City Yellow Card – Ball
75’ Houston Yellow Card – Hedge
79’ Houston Yellow Card — Abam 

Scoring
4’ Kansas City – Hamilton (Rodriguez)
59’ Houston – Groom (Sánchez) 
80’ Kansas City – Pickett 

Scoring Summary

Lineups: 

Kansas City: Franch, Ball, Leach, Winebrenner (90’+4 Addie McCain), LaBonta (78’ Kate Del Fava), Hamilton, Bennett (78’ Victoria Pickett), Rodriguez (68’ Mallory Weber), Loera (68’ Chardonnay Curran), Scott, Edmonds 

Substitutes Not Used: Johnson, Miller, Nolf, Schneider

Houston: Campbell, Chapman (45’ Gareis), Naughton, Prisock, Hanson, Sánchez (62’ Prince), Alozie (45’ Daly), Abam, Viggiano, Schmidt (73’ Hedge), Groom (87’ Gomera-Stevens)

Substitutes Not Used: Ashley, Dederick, Eddy, Visalli