**Houston, Texas –** The Kansas City Current went to Houston and took all three points off the Dash thanks to goals from midfielders Lo’eau LaBonta, who converted from the penalty spot, and Hailie Mace, who scored in the opening minute of the second half. The result gives Kansas City its third win in the last five games after an up and down start to the campaign.
One of the storylines heading into the evening came from new Dash forward Ebony Salmon, who was acquired from Racing Louisville FC this week and made a first start in her first chance with her new club. In the 14 ^th minute, Salmon nearly got on the end of a ball played forward as she neared the Current goal, but her touch was too heavy, and the ball landed safely in the gloves of Kansas City goalkeeper Adrianna Franch.
After a couple of half-chances for Kansas City, Franch was again called into action with Salmon on the ball in an attacking position in the 27 ^th minute. After latching onto a pass and taking a touch forward, Salmon saw the onrushing Franch and attempted to slide the ball past the goalkeeper though Franch did well to get a leg out and stop the shot.
The visiting Current would create another pair of opportunities but ultimately momentum swung back in Houston’s favor when Franch was forced to make another good save following an attacking move. Wrestling for the ball, Houston’s Joelle Anderson toe-poked a pass ahead for teammate Shea Groom closing in on goal only for Groom’s shot to be denied by the well-positioned Franch as the hosts’ frustrations grew.
Houston’s fortunes would change though, and in the 42 ^nd minute Kansas City was awarded a penalty kick after the referee had judged a blocked cross to be a handball resulting in the decision. Up to take, Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta absolutely cannoned her spot kick down the center of goal to put her side one-up despite most of the earlier chances going the other way.
The Current would hold onto their one goal lead through the halftime break and even double their advantage inside the first minute of the second half through midfielder Hailie Mace. Creating a move forward, Mace picked out teammate CeCe Kizer on the right side of the field only to see Kizer make her way toward the endline. Kizer then cut her ball in back across to the front middle of the box where Mace was waiting, and the midfielder made good contact on a shot that somehow rolled through the entire defense and into the back of the net.
Houston would attempt to work its way back into the match with a quality opportunity on the hour mark, though Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch stepped up again in a big way with a double save. First, it was the Dash’s Brianna Visalli who had a powerful drive from the left side of the box repelled by Franch. Then, on a rebound that Kansas City failed to clear, substitute midfielder Chardonnay Curran got ahold of a shot that Franch was well able to get on top of and the move went missing.
Finally, in the 87 ^th minute, a cross-cum-shot from the left side of the field ended up forcing Franch into a mistake that she did well to eventually cover and preserve the clean sheet. As the drive came in, Franch was unable to make quality contact with the ball and ended up leaving it at the doorstep for Houston’s Emily Ogle, but Franch leapt and ended up blocking the effort with her face to keep it out.
However, the Dash were able to pull one back in the ninth of nine minutes of stoppage time as a low ball in from the left side richocheted off Current defender Elizabeth Ball and in the back of the net. However, with just seconds to play Houston had little opportunity to find an equalizer with the full-time whistle sounding moments later.
In the end, Kansas City’s goals either side of halftime were the difference maker as Houston was never able to convert the chances they created despite the own goal. The result is Houston’s second loss in the last three matches, though the previous six matches they were able to remain unbeaten. As the visitors take all three points home, they extend their own unbeaten run to five games, of which three are wins and clean sheets.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights