**Kansas City, Kansas** – The North Carolina Courage edged the Kansas City Current, 2-1, in a tight Challenge Cup semifinal at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night. The visitors were propelled by first half goals from Debinha (penalty) and Diana Ordoñez, with Current forward Kristen Hamilton’s goal to pull one back too little too late.
It was North Carolina who struck first as they earned a penalty kick after just 17 minutes. Attacker Kerolin Nicoli sped forward into the box and, cutting inside, sent a defender to the ground and fired a shot on goal. Attempting to block the shot, Current defender Jenna Winebrenner lunged forward where the ball made contact with an arm that was judged to have been outstretched to result in the penalty decision. Stepping up to the spot, midfielder Debinha buried the chance straight down the gut of the goal to put the Courage ahead. The goal is Debinha’s fifth in five straight Challenge Cup games.
One of Kansas City’s best looks of the first half came via a corner kick in the 32 ^nd minute. After getting a header that was blocked on the initial delivery, defender Taylor Leach managed to beat a left-footed shot from the center of the area toward goal that Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland did well to save.
However, four minutes later, the visitors managed to go two-up thanks to forward Diana Ordoñez. With Kerolin again driving at goal, the Brazilian faked a shot before twisting in and out and firing a ball across goal to the far post where teammate Diana Ordoñez was waiting. Sliding to meet the pass, Ordoñez bundled the ball across the line to beat Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch.
Three minutes after the goal, a scramble in the penalty area followed a corner kick that Rowland couldn’t keep collected. The ball bounced around between Current players before midfielder Alexis Loera took it on the left side of the box and smashed a ball across goal that was then deflected by a Courage player and landed inches wide of the goalmouth for a corner kick.
Closing out the half, the Courage again found light through Kerolin. Nearly involved in another goal, the forward began to produce some of her best as she again beat a defender and broke into the box where she fired on goal to produce a good save out of Franch.
At halftime, North Carolina looked the better side and the scoreline reflected as much with the Courage holding a 2-0 lead after 45 minutes of play thanks to goals from Debinha and Ordoñez.
Into the second half, the Current had a fantastic opportunity to find their first goal of the night in the 54 ^th minute. Moving ahead after a through pass from teammate Kristen Edmonds, Current forward Kristen Hamilton came close to scoring after some miscommunication in the Courage defense, but her point-blank effort was repelled by Rowland to preserve the clean sheet.
The hosts did eventually break through with more than a few minutes to spare as Hamilton managed to pull a goal back in the 79 ^th minute. The Current had earned a set piece out wide, and the delivery into the penalty area was flicked on into the path of Hamilton who did well to convert from close range.
Kansas City continued to apply pressure on the Courage goal in the final ten minutes plus three additional in extra time, but North Carolina exercised its grit and held firm to defeat the Current and advance.
North Carolina now hosts the Washington Spirit, who outlasted OL Reign in a 10-round penalty shootout to earn their place, on Saturday, May 7 in the Challenge Cup Final.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights