**KANSAS CITY, Ks.** – The Kansas City Current toppled the Chicago Red Stars in a 4-0 win at home to earn a big result and keep them in 2 ^nd place in the Central Division behind Racing Louisville FC. Four goals in 16 minutes in the second half made the difference with a Debinha brace sandwiched by other goals from Vanessa DiBernardo and Cece Kizer for a result that greatly stretches their goal differential.
The Kansas City Current were first to produce an effort on goal between the two sides with midfielder Debinha firing on Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s net in the 27 ^th minute to force a good save. Debinha was on the ball just outside the box to the right of the center of goal. With options in front of her, the Brazilian chose to take the ball a couple of touches forward and aim toward the top right corner with a vicious effort. Naeher leapt to tip the ball over the bar and out of play, but Debinha could not have hit her effort much better than she did.
Then in the 42 ^nd minute, Debinha had another great opportunity in front of goal that Naeher did well to deny again as the Current continued testing the Red Stars’ defense. Debinha was on the ball outside the penalty area when she drove in closer this time, twisting her way to create space for a shot. However, Naeher came off her line to close that space and Debinha’s low effort was well repelled by U.S. international.
The hosts would continue to knock at the door through the duration of the first half but would ultimately not break through until the 54 ^th minute, when Debinha would not be denied in her third opportunity of the night. Debinha played a one-two with teammate Hailie Mace when she got the ball back right on the edge of the penalty area just to the left of center. From there, Debinha curled a perfect shot past Naeher with nothing the goalkeeper could do to put her side ahead early in the second half.
That goal then opened the floodgates with both Vanessa DiBernardo and Cece Kizer scoring in the 60 ^th and 62 ^nd minutes, respectively, before Debinha scored again in the 70 ^th minute to make it 4-0 in a span of 16 minutes.
First, DiBernardo’s goal came as a byproduct of a failed clearance by the Chicago defense which resulted in the ball falling to the midfielder’s feet a yard outside the penalty area. Just to the right of the center of goal, DiBernardo struck a rocket with her left foot that sailed into the back of the net and in for the Current’s second goal in six minutes.
Then, Kizer’s strike in the 62 ^nd minute made it three goals in eight minutes as a recovery inside Chicago’s half led to Kizer being played in on the right side of goal where she slotted past Naeher. Attacker Mimmi Larsson had just entered the game when she recovered possession from a Chicago player on the edge of her attacking third. From there, Larsson slowed up play until Kizer could make her run just to her right. Larsson then slid the ball perfectly into Kizer’s path and Kizer calmly guided her right-footed effort past Naeher to the far post and in.
Finally, a perfectly timed run and execution between Debinha and DiBernardo provided the icing on the cake in the form of Kansas City’s fourth goal in the 70 ^th minute. DiBernardo was on the ball about 25 yards out from goal when Debinha inched forward at just the right time for DiBernardo to time her pass and keep her onside. Debinha was then in open space in the left side of the box where she pushed a low effort past Naeher to the far corner for her brace.
The Current then comfortably rode out the final quarter of an hour plus stoppage time with the hosts able to claim a second win in their last eight games for a momentum boost. Meanwhile, for Chicago it’s a second straight loss in all competitions by at least four goals after losing to North Carolina, 5-0, last weekend.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights