Match Report Presented by NFM: Chicago Red Stars vs. KC Current | March 25, 2022

The Kansas City Current advanced to first place in the Central Division of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars. Defender Hailie Mace and forward Kristen Hamilton scored their first goals of the season to bring home three points for Kansas City in the club’s first ever comeback win. 

“A hard night, not only with the conditions, but playing a very strong Chicago team,” said Kansas City Current head coach Matt Potter. “So, all in all, we couldn’t be happier to get something out of the game and obviously enjoy the win.” 

The Red Stars took an early lead in the 22nd minute. A blocked shot from Mallory Pugh fell to the feet of Vanessa DiBernardo, whose shot deflected off Kansas City defender Alex Loera and fell past goalkeeper AD Franch. 

Chicago nearly had another in the 31st minute when Pugh got out ahead of rookie defender Alex Loera. Franch closed the tight angle to deny the Red Stars a second score.

Kansas City’s first goal came in the 58th minute, when a swift cross from Lo’eau LaBonta found Hailie Mace at the top of the 18-yard box. The defender launched a rocket past Alyssa Naeher into the top right corner of the goal to score the day after her birthday.

🏆 @hailiemace with a very early Goal of the Year candidate! pic.twitter.com/mNTuBUWIBw

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) March 26, 2022

Mace’s runs were dangerous on the flanks all night. Just under a half-hour later, her pass was key for the Current finding the lead in the 86th minute. Mace chipped the ball over the Red Stars back line right to the feet of Kristen Hamilton. The NWSL veteran knocked it past Naeher to bring home three points for Kansas City.

Perfect Pass.
Perfect Finish.@hailiemace 👉 @khamilton17 for the late goal! pic.twitter.com/O7INwRWObP

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) March 26, 2022

The Current again started two rookies on its back line, Alex Loera and Jenna Winebrenner, to hold forward Mallory Pugh at bay. All five of the team’s rookies saw time in the match, with Elyse Bennett and Izzy Rodriguez entering in the second half. Elizabeth Ball, Kate Del Fava and Taylor Leach all saw their first minutes of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.

This is the Kansas City Current’s first win in the NWSL Challenge Cup and their first win on the road in club history. The team next travels to Texas to face the Houston Dash (1-1-0) Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The first home match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup will be at Children’s Mercy Park Saturday, April 2 at 2 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: Chicago Red Stars vs Kansas City Current
Date: March 25, 2022
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Illinois 
Kickoff: 7:37 p.m. CT / 8:37 p.m. ET
Weather: 42 degrees, cloudy
Attendance: 2,604

Discipline
54’ Chicago Yellow Card – Wright
68’ Kansas City Yellow Card – Winebrenner
77’ Kansas City Yellow Card – Bennett
90’+1 Chicago Yellow Card – Cook 

Scoring
22’ Chicago – DiBernardo
58’ Kansas City – Mace (LaBonta)
86’ Kansas City – Hamilton (Mace)

Scoring Summary

Lineups: 

Chicago: Naeher, Morse, Sharples, Milazzo, Wright (76’ Aguilera), St-Georges (59’ Mautz), DiBernardo (59’ Griffith), Colaprico, Nagasato, Pugh, Stevens (59’ Cook) 

Substitutes Not Used: Boyd, Fisher, Foster, McManus

Kansas City: Franch, Mace, Loera (45’ Elizabeth Ball), Winebrenner, Edmonds, Mewis (45’ Kate Del Fava), Scott, Curran, McCain (71’ Elyse Bennett), LaBonta (90’+1 Taylor Leach), Hamilton

Substitutes Not Used: Johnson, Miller, Nolf, Schneider