Kansas City NWSL Falls in Home Opener

KANSAS CITY (May 26, 2021) - Kansas City NWSL fans showed up for their new team on Wednesday night. The home side controlled most of the action for the first half and well into the second half. However, the Chicago Red Stars were able to convert two scores in a matter of three minutes, topping Kansas City 2-0.

Kansas City fans and community showed how much they stand behind the newly formed NWSL team with tremendous energy and excitement at Legends Field. 

After the game, Head Coach Huw Williams stated that he was astonished with the support from the Kansas City fans and community. He exclaimed that, “It was a phenomenal atmosphere, phenomenal spirit and the feel and the environment here, and just the support that this team is getting from the community is unbelievable and nothing but appreciation from me. The work from our crew that goes into preparing for these games - big hand from us on the technical side, for sure have an appreciation for the sport and all the work that goes into it.”

Kansas City started the first half strong as they caused Chicago to concede five corners that led to three shots. Kansas City threatened Chicago’s box multiple times in the first half. In the 25th minute Amy Rodriguez sent a dangerous cross to Mariana Larroquette, forcing Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to make a sprawling save. 

The second half turned upside down for Kansas City when the Chicago Red Stars struck twice within three minutes. Mallory Pugh was the difference-maker and assisted with both goals by using her speed on the flanks. She was able to slot a pass into Kaelia Watt in the 67th minute and Makenzy Doniak in the 70th minute giving the Red Stars control of the game. 

Rodriguez remained positive after the tough loss and called this game a “Learning experience for the young team.” She added, “We get better, that's the bottom line, we get better…this is a learning experience for us. Even though we are somewhat of an experienced team, we still have a lot to learn, and we have a lot to grow, and we take games like this, losses like this that are sometimes hard, and we spin it to work in the positive. We use it to get better.”

Kansas City will now set its sights to the next regular season match on the road on Sunday, May 30th at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida vs. the Orlando Pride. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. CT.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Kansas City NWSL vs Chicago Red Stars

Date: May 26, 2021

Venue: Legends Field, Kansas City, Kansas.

Kickoff: 7:08 p.m. CT, 8:08 p.m. ET

Weather: 82 degrees, cloudy

Attendance: 5,272

Discipline

42’ CHI - Johnson (Yellow)

66’ CHI - Gautrat (Yellow)

82’ KC - Weber (Yellow)

Scoring

67’ CHI- Watt (Pugh)

70’ CHI - Donziak (Pugh)

Scoring Summary

Lineups:

Kansas City: Barnhart, Maemone, Corsie, Leach (46’ Del Fava), Bowen, Vincent, Scott (76’ Listro), Pickett (79’ Johnson), Rodriguez, Larroquette (64’ Weber), Jenkins (64’ Vasconcelos). 

Substitutes Not Used: McCain, Nelson, Nick, Nolf.

Chicago Red Stars: Naeher, Krueger, Gorden, Davidson, Sharples, Wright (60’ Pugh), Colaprico, DiBernardo (89’ Stanton), Gautrat, Woldmoe, Johnson (61’ Watt), Doniak (81’ Hill).     

Substitutes Not Used: Miller, St. Georges, Colaprico, Luebbert, Milazzo.

KANSAS CITY (May 26, 2021) - Kansas City NWSL fans showed up for their new team on Wednesday night. The home side controlled most of the action for the first half and well into the second half. However, the Chicago Red Stars were able to convert two scores in a matter of three minutes, topping Kansas City 2-0.

Kansas City fans and community showed how much they stand behind the newly formed NWSL team with tremendous energy and excitement at Legends Field. 

After the game, Head Coach Huw Williams stated that he was astonished with the support from the Kansas City fans and community. He exclaimed that, “It was a phenomenal atmosphere, phenomenal spirit and the feel and the environment here, and just the support that this team is getting from the community is unbelievable and nothing but appreciation from me. The work from our crew that goes into preparing for these games - big hand from us on the technical side, for sure have an appreciation for the sport and all the work that goes into it.”

Kansas City started the first half strong as they caused Chicago to concede five corners that led to three shots. Kansas City threatened Chicago’s box multiple times in the first half. In the 25th minute Amy Rodriguez sent a dangerous cross to Mariana Larroquette, forcing Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to make a sprawling save. 

The second half turned upside down for Kansas City when the Chicago Red Stars struck twice within three minutes. Mallory Pugh was the difference-maker and assisted with both goals by using her speed on the flanks. She was able to slot a pass into Kaelia Watt in the 67th minute and Makenzy Doniak in the 70th minute giving the Red Stars control of the game. 

Rodriguez remained positive after the tough loss and called this game a “Learning experience for the young team.” She added, “We get better, that's the bottom line, we get better…this is a learning experience for us. Even though we are somewhat of an experienced team, we still have a lot to learn, and we have a lot to grow, and we take games like this, losses like this that are sometimes hard, and we spin it to work in the positive. We use it to get better.”

Kansas City will now set its sights to the next regular season match on the road on Sunday, May 30th at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida vs. the Orlando Pride. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. CT.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Kansas City NWSL vs Chicago Red Stars

Date: May 26, 2021

Venue: Legends Field, Kansas City, Kansas.

Kickoff: 7:08 p.m. CT, 8:08 p.m. ET

Weather: 82 degrees, cloudy

Attendance: 5,272

Discipline

42’ CHI - Johnson (Yellow)

66’ CHI - Gautrat (Yellow)

82’ KC - Weber (Yellow)

Scoring

67’ CHI- Watt (Pugh)

70’ CHI - Donziak (Pugh)

Scoring Summary

Lineups:

Kansas City: Barnhart, Maemone, Corsie, Leach (46’ Del Fava), Bowen, Vincent, Scott (76’ Listro), Pickett (79’ Johnson), Rodriguez, Larroquette (64’ Weber), Jenkins (64’ Vasconcelos). 

Substitutes Not Used: McCain, Nelson, Nick, Nolf.

Chicago Red Stars: Naeher, Krueger, Gorden, Davidson, Sharples, Wright (60’ Pugh), Colaprico, DiBernardo (89’ Stanton), Gautrat, Woldmoe, Johnson (61’ Watt), Doniak (81’ Hill).     

Substitutes Not Used: Miller, St. Georges, Colaprico, Luebbert, Milazzo.