Match Preview: Kansas City Current open the home schedule with expected record crowd

The Kansas City Current will open the club’s home schedule Saturday, April 1 at 11:40 in a nationally broadcast rematch of the 2022 NWSL Championship against the Portland Thorns, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. The match will feature a record-breaking crowd as the team has already sold enough tickets to beat the attendance record of 10,395 set last season.

Last week, the Current opened the 2023 season in North Carolina. With a starting lineup that featured three rookies and four players making their NWSL debut, the team fought hard for 90 minutes. Unfortunately, an unexpected shot from distance gave the Courage a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute and the Current were not able to find an equalizer.

Portland made their home debut last weekend, facing off against the Orlando Pride in a dominant performance for the Thorns. Goals from Weaver, Smith, Sugita and Vasconcelos led Portland to a 4-0 win.

Saturday’s match will be broadcast nationally, live on CBS. In addition, Dave Borchardt and Jillian Carroll Letrinko will bring fans all the action from KC Current Radio on the Kansas City Current app, available on Apple and Android devices.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas City Current midfielder Debinha – After picking up a knock to her right knee in Brazil’s match against the United States at the SheBelieves Cup, Debinha is listed as questionable on this week’s player availability report and is expected to be available for selection for Kansas City for the first time. Born in Brasopolis, Brazil, Debinha has represented her country in more than 100 matches throughout two Olympic games and in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Since joining the National Women’s Soccer League in 2017, she has regularly led her team to the playoffs, been honored on the league’s Team of the Month/Best XI, and notably won back-to-back NWSL Challenge Cup MVP Awards in 2021 and 2022. Prior to joining the Current, she scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for the North Carolina Courage in 2022.

Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith – The reigning NWSL MVP, Sophia Smith scored her first and last goals of the 2022 season against the Kansas City Current. In Portland’s first match this year, she had five shots, three of which were on target and one which resulted in a goal for the Thorns. She has 12 goals in 27 appearances for the United States Women’s National Team and was called up for the team’s April friendlies earlier this week.  

CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH
Fans will look for the Kansas City Current to win on their own turf after suffering a 2-0 defeat to the Thorns in the 2022 NWSL Championship. The Current’s run to the final was built on a historic 13 match unbeaten streak, including the last time Kansas City played at home when the team clinched the club’s first playoff spot. This will be the first of two matchups against Portland in the regular season – Kansas City visits the Thorns on July 1.

PACK THE PARK
The Current are expected to break the existing home attendance record of 10,395 fans, set in 2022 when the team hosted Angel City on August 19, 2022. Fans are encouraged to #PackThePark and support the Current as the team embarks on its 2023 campaign. The first 12,000 fans to enter the gates will receive a pair of Thunderstix, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION
The Kansas City Current will celebrate Global FC as Saturday’s Community Champion of the Match. Originally created as a community development project to assist refugees during resettlement, Global FC uses soccer to bridge socioeconomic disparities between communities through the formation of an inclusive sports culture. The organization provides underserved youth with quality soccer opportunities and access to first-rate facilities, leagues and tournaments. 

Global FC and the Kansas City Current were awarded the 2022 Nationwide Community Impact Award, a season-long, community-focused initiative that promotes community partners and local service projects chosen and led by each NWSL club. Before kickoff, Global FC will be presented with the $25,000 check that they received as part of the award.