Kansas City Current Claims 2-1 Victory Over Orlando Pride

Two first half goals from the Kansas City Current (4-9-0, 12pts) led the team to a hard-fought win over the Orlando Pride (4-8-1, 13 pts). Kansas City has scored eight goals in the team’s last three games across all competitions, while Debinha’s chip from distance in the 29th minute earned the midfielder her sixth goal of the regular season.

“Fantastic performance from the team today,” said interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom. “I heard Hamilton talk in front of the group right before the game and she said the last game we lost against Washington it hurt so much during the whole week that we are never going to lose like that again. I was very impressed with the way we handled, especially the second half, with all the momentum that Orlando had on us. Especially how they sold the pressure in the end it’s a fantastic feeling to win today.”

Kansas City dominated the match throughout the first half, logging five shots on target and holding Orlando to only one. In the 12th minute, defender Kate Del Fava charged up the right-hand side to lay off a low pass for forward Kristen Hamilton, who hit a powerful shot toward goal. Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse rushed out and slid to block the shot with her knee. 

With the momentum flowing their way, the Current found the back of the net first just a half hour in. Midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo dispossessed the Pride defender near midfield and poked the pass forward to Debinha. The team’s leader in goals saw Moorhouse far off her line and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper from nearly 30 yards out. This was Debinha’s third straight goal in three matches across all competitions. 

Kansas City nearly scored a second goal in the 34^th minute. Defender Gabrielle Robinson found herself unmarked near the top of the box on a corner kick. Her header forced a last minute save from Moorhouse, who leapt up and tipped the ball over the bar. 

Just before halftime, forward Cece Kizer doubled the lead for the visitors. A long run of attacking play ended with DiBernardo at the endline. She centered the ball to find Kizer at the middle of the goal. The forward took a touch, turned and poked the ball past Moorhouse into the bottom left corner to put the Current up 2-0. With this match, midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo becomes the second KC Current player to log two assists in one game. 

The Pride started the second half on the front foot, challenging Kansas City’s attacking-focused play. A corner kick for the home team in the 56th minute led to an accidental handball from forward Kristen Hamilton in the box, giving Orlando a penalty kick. Marta stepped up to the spot and sent the ball straight down the middle, while goalkeeper Cassie Miller dove right. 

Orlando’s high pressure nearly earned the home team the equalizer in the 80^th minute, when rookie forward Messiah Bright sprinted up the field to intercept a pass between the Current defense. Miller came far off her line to deflect the ball and shut down a certain one-on-one opportunity. 

The Current continue the team’s road stretch next weekend, as the club travels to Portland to face the Thorns on Saturday night, with kickoff at 9:00 p.m. CT. The team returns home on July 22 to host the Houston Dash in UKG NWSL Challenge Cup play. Tickets are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park. For pricing and information, visit kansascitycurrent.com.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current
Date: June 24, 2023
Venue: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL
Kickoff: 6:07 p.m. CT/7:07 p.m. ET
Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy
Attendance: 6,473

Discipline
45+6 Orlando – McCutcheon (Yellow)
54’ Kansas City – Gautrat (Yellow)
56’ Kansas City – Hamilton (Yellow)
73’ Kansas City – Del Fava (Yellow)
87’ Kansas City – Miller (Yellow)
89’ Kansas City – Cooper (Yellow)
90+2 Orlando – Bright (Yellow)

Scoring
29’ Kansas City – Debinha (DiBernardo)
45+1’ Kansas City – Kizer (DiBernardo)
58’ Orlando – Marta (PK)

Scoring Summary

Orlando Pride Lineup: Moorhouse, Strom, Madril, Montefusco, McCutcheon, Villacorta (79’ Watt), Listro (45’ Bright), Cluff (66’ Celia), Abella (45’ Doyle), Adriana, Marta ©
Unused Substitutes: Nelson, Tymrak, Hansen, Yates, Martinez 

Kansas City Current Lineup: Miller, Mace (6’ Rodriguez), Robinson, Ball (64’ Merrick), Del Fava, Gautrat (64’ Larsson), DiBernardo, Kizer (80’ Winebrenner), Debinha, Cooper, Hamilton ©
Unused Substitutes: Franch, Childers, Curran, Soto, Spaanstra