**KANSAS CITY, Kan. –** The Kansas City Current claimed a 2-0 victory over Gotham FC at home with midfielder Debinha scoring two goals in four minutes in the second half to help deliver the Current their second win of the year. Though the pair were neck-in-neck in shots faced (13-12 – Gotham advantage), the Current’s seven shots on target compared to Gotham’s three are what ultimately helped propel the hosts on Sunday night.
The match began with Gotham having the first quality couple of looks on goal, beginning in the 8 ^th minute. Gotham were pushing ahead following a throw-in with attacker Taylor Smith foraging forward on the left side of the field. Smith worked her way toward the endline before picking her head up and picking out teammate Yazmeen Ryan near the penalty spot with a low cross. However, Ryan’s first-time effort with her left foot was blocked and the ball was eventually cleared. Then, just five minutes later, forward Lynn Williams was pushing toward the 18-yard box with a load of Current defenders chasing her. Slightly mis-controlling the ball, Williams was forced to hold play up but was able to maintain possession and fired a shot toward goal that was blocked and sent wide for a corner that ultimately proved fruitless.
The first look for Kansas City came in the 22 ^nd minute when midfielder Debinha found herself in on goal with an opportunity to put her side in front. A Current corner kick was punched clear by Gotham goalkeeper Abby Smith, but only as far as Kansas City attacker Cece Kizer just outside the box. Kizer was first to meet the clearance and headed back in toward goal, which was the pass that sent Debinha in behind the defense. Leaping to kick the ball from a tight angle, Debinha had her shot pushed away by Smith and the chance was cleared.
From there, both sides created opportunities that came close in the duration of the first half, first with Gotham in the 37 ^th minute again through Ryan. The attacker was on the ball on the left side and cut back to her right foot looking to curl the ball with just a little bit of goal to work with. Impressively, Ryan was able to get the effort around an outstretched Current goalkeeper Cassie Miller, but it unfortunately could not curl back around to find the far post in the end. Then, in the 43 ^rd minute, the Current broke the other way with midfielder Mimmi Larsson attempting to squeeze around the Gotham defense, but a good defensive effort from the Gotham backline saw the move put to an end.
At the half, the two sides remained scoreless.
The Current came out of the second half the more attacking of the two sides with forward Michelle Cooper having a phenomenal look on goal in the 50 ^th minute. Clever interplay on the right side saw Kizer on the giving and then receiving end of a one-two passing move before she played a reverse through ball toward Cooper, who was splitting toward the near post. Cooper then latched onto the pass but had little time to make a decision with Smith coming off her line. Cooper then attempted to lift her shot over and through Smith, but the goalkeeper got large and prevented the opening goal.
Four minutes later, Gotham got another look of their own but through an unlikely source as a deflection off a Yazmeen Ryan shot fell directly into the path of Williams just in front of goal. Producing a solid reaction shot, Williams only failed to score by the heroics of the goalkeeper Miller, who responded with a phenomenal save at near point-blank range.
However, just before the hour mark, the Gotham defense finally broke with Debinha knocking one past Smith to open the scoring in the 57 ^th minute. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta received a short pass just inside the opposition half and played a beautiful splitting ball through the Gotham defense down a left of center line for Debinha to run onto. From there, the midfielder produced a calm finish to the right side of goal for her third goal of the year.
Not having to wait long for the club’s second goal, dramatic circumstances saw Debinha tap in for her fourth goal of the year and the Current’s second of the night as the goalkeeper Smith came rushing way off her line in an attempt to beat Cooper to a through pass down the right side. Failing to get there in time, Cooper was then able to lift a cross to the back post that Debinha settled to the floor. With the ball pinballing momentarily in the box, Debinha was then able to bundle the ball over the line to provide a bit of security to the Kansas City lead.
Kansas City did manage to create one more good look in front of goal before a couple of late efforts by Gotham, but neither side were able to add to the evening’s scoreline and Kansas City held on in the end for a big 2-0 win. The win is Kansas City’s second of the year and second consecutive game by a 2-0 score. Meanwhile, Gotham’s loss stops a two game winning streak of their own, though Gotham sits fifth after five games on 9 points while the Current sit in seventh on 6 points.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights