**KANSAS CITY, Ks.** – The Kansas City Current defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 6-3, as the hosts hit for six in front of a record crowd of over 15,600 fans at Children’s Mercy Park. With the win, Kansas City officially eliminated the Red Stars from playoff contention and produced a wild home finale.
The hosts Kansas City were on the attack from the first minute as they were able to maneuver through the Chicago defense and create some valuable opportunities in front of goal. In the 8 ^th minute, Kansas City defender Izzy Rodriguez struck the bar with a venomous effort that nearly snuck underneath and into the roof of the net from outside the box. Rodriguez had recovered possession some 25 yards out from goal when she took a touch and fired on goal, forcing Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher into a good save.
However, in the 14 ^th minute, Rodriguez would not be denied her goal at the second time asking as she played a quick one-two with teammate Debinha before burying a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the goal. Rodriguez had kept the ball in the attacking third when she picked out Debinha to her left in the box with a short pass. Debinha then fed Rodriguez’s return run, and Rodriguez opened up her foot and finished with poise to put the hosts ahead.
After Chicago came close to equalizing in the 18 ^th minute through midfielder Julia Bianchi’s free kick, the Red Stars would ultimately end up pulling level in the 20 ^th minute through defender Kayla Sharples. The ball had been worked to the right side for Chicago when a cross in was pinballed around with neither side getting a decisive touch on it initially. However, as it worked its way to the far side of the box, Sharples was in the right place at the right time to slam it into the back of the net and Chicago were level just six minutes after going down.
Unfortunately for the Red Stars, though, they found themselves level for just two minutes again as Kansas City jumped back out into the lead through Lo’eau LaBonta in the 22 ^nd minute. Forward Alexa Spaanstra played a backheel pass to LaBonta, who was sprinting through the middle of the box as she took the pass. LaBonta then dribbled around a pair of defenders and slotted home from about 10 yards out as the hosts restored their lead all before the half-hour mark.
Then, in the 39 ^th minute, the Current nearly doubled their advantage as another chance in front of goal came about via forward Michelle Cooper. Cooper had made a smart run into the penalty area as she looked to get in behind the Chicago defense, and Debinha was able to pick Cooper’s run out. The forward then took the ball and found the bottom far corner with the outside of her right boot, but the offside flag was raised to negate the goal despite a great finish.
Just before the break, though, Kansas City would add their third goal on the night and increase their lead to two as Spaanstra scored her first regular season goal in impressive fashion to add to her assist already. Spaanstra was streaking down the left side of the field when she created space for herself, slalomed inside the penalty area, and stuck a fantastic shot to the right side of goal and in as the Current added a third goal of the night inside the first half.
However, as the match was entering first half stoppage time, a nightmare error from Current goalkeeper AD Franch saw a back pass roll right underneath her feet and into the back of the net, gifting Chicago a way back in just seconds after a two-goal lead had been established. Because of that, Kansas City held a 3-2 lead going into halftime.
The second half was packed with as much action as the first, with Bianchi reaming the crossbar with a powerful strike in the 50 ^th minute to keep the Kansas City defense on their toes. Bianchi had collected the ball outside the box after a blocked shot saw it roll out to her. Producing plenty of power behind the shot, Bianchi watched it sail toward goal where it clipped the crossbar on the way over and out of play as Chicago nearly found an equalizer.
Then, in the 53 ^rd minute, Debinha put the ball in the back of the net to give the Current a 4-2 cushion, but an offside flag cause temporary confusion with the officials opting for VAR review. After the review process, footage showed that Debinha had clearly kept an onside position and the goal was awarded as the home side Current continued to roll.
As the game seemed to reach its peak craziness, though, Chicago would find the night’s seventh goal and their third as a team as Bianca St-Georges slammed home a chance at the doorstep in the 63 ^rd minute to cut the Red Stars’ deficit back to a single goal. Chicago kept knocking at the door as midfielder Julia Bianchi had a rebounded effort from just inside the box blocked off the line by a pair of Kansas City defenders. However, waiting to pounce was St-Georges, who did well to bundle the ball over the line and keep her side in the match still with over 20 minutes to play.
In the second minutes of what was decided to be eight minutes of added time, the Current put the last nail in the coffin as forward Cece Kizer buried a chance late on to decide the match and give Kansas City a 5-3 advantage. Cooper had gotten on the ball and was driving ahead through midfield when she picked out Kizer to her right inside the box. Kizer then drove a shot low and underneath Naeher, adding a fifth goal to the match.
Finally, in the seventh minute of added time, the Current added one more for good measure as substitute forward Mimmi Larsson opened up her body and bent a low shot around Naeher to the bottom far corner and in. In the end, it’s a six-goal performance that carried Kansas City above Chicago in the penultimate match of each team’s regular season.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights