Match Report: Kansas City Current fall to Portland Thorns

The Kansas City Current lost 3-0 to the Portland Thorns in the first match of the regular season. The team now shifts focus to the Challenge Cup semifinal Wednesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. CT at Children’s Mercy Park, the club’s first ever playoff appearance. 

“Not the start to the regular season we were hoping for, but our attitude is ‘sometimes beat, never conquered,’” said head coach Matt Potter. “Now, we get to regroup and get ready for the next game ahead of us: the Challenge Cup semifinal.”

The Thorns got ahead early in the eighth minute when veteran Christine Sinclair found herself open near the penalty spot with the ball. She was denied by goalkeeper AD Franch, but the rebound fell to forward Morgan Weaver, who slid it in the back corner. 

Kansas City followed up with a great chance in the 26th minute, when Kate Del Fava pounced on a slow pass out from Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby. She passed in for Elyse Bennett, whose shot grazed past the left post. 

The Current’s Franch came up big just minutes later, when Natalia Kuikka crossed the ball to the backpost. However, after a scramble for the ball, Sinclair fired a shot past Franch to put the home team up by two goals. 

Kansas City closed out the half with another great chance off a free kick from Kristen Edmonds. Her ball found Elizabeth Ball at the center of the goal, but Ball’s header went barely wide. 

Thorns halftime substitute Sophia Smith scored Portland’s third goal in the 53rd minute, when she found herself open on the edge of the penalty box. Her shot sailed to the back corner for Portland’s 3-0 win. 

The Current play next in the semifinals of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Wednesday, May 4 against the North Carolina Courage. The team’s first-ever playoff appearance kicks off at Children’s Mercy Park at 7:30 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 Challenge Cup Match Report
Match: Portland Thorns vs. Kansas City Current
Date: April 30, 2022
Venue: Providence Park, Portland, Oregon 
Kickoff: 3:07 p.m. PT / 5:07 p.m. CT
Weather:  57 degrees, light rain
Attendance: 13,672 

Discipline
None

Scoring
8’ Portland – Weaver
34’ Portland – Sinclair 
51’ Portland – S. Smith (Klingenberg)  

Scoring Summary

Lineups:
Kansas City: Franch ©, Rodriguez, Ball, Winebrenner, Weber (19’ Loera), Del Fava, Edmonds, Curran (74’ Leach), McCain (46’ Scott), Bennett (65’ Hamilton), LaBonta (65’ Pickett)  

Substitutes Not Used: Schneider, Miller, Nolf 

Portland: Bixby, Nally, Menges, Hubly, Klingenberg (82’ Pogarch), Coffey, Kuikka, Rodrìguez (46’ Sugita), Sinclair © (81’ Ryan), Weaver (74’ Everett), Beckie (46’ S. Smith) 

Substitutes Not Used: A. Smith, Moultrie, Provenzano, Porter