**Kansas City, Kansas** – The Kansas City Current defeated the North Carolina Courage, 3-2, in a tightly contested match that saw the hosts Kansas City come back from 2-1 down thanks to a two-goal blitz in four minutes in the second half.
It didn’t take long for the action to kick off at Children’s Mercy Park with Kansas City earning a penalty just four minutes in, with Claire Lavogez’s shot from just inside the penalty area judged to have struck the arm of Courage midfielder Brianna Pinto. With the referee wasting little time pointing to the spot, Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta assumed spot kick duty and slotted a very cool penalty low and to the right of Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy to go one up.
After the sides traded chances over the following few minutes, it was the Courage who would find the game’s next goal as forward Kerolin produced an equalizing goal in the 28 ^th minute. Seemingly making something out of nothing, defender Merritt Mathias played a long ball over the top and past the defense to reach her teammate approaching the penalty area. Kerolin then did well to chest the ball down and get a shot away despite onrushing Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, who did her best to prevent any attempt. The ball then squeezed around Franch and rolled into the far side netting as it had just enough on it to prevent any last second clearances.
At the end of the first half, the sides were prepared to pick up where they left off as Kansas City’s early opener was canceled out by the Brazilian Kerolin’s impressive finish.
As the second half began, the Courage and Current flipped roles with visiting North Carolina finding their first lead of the game in the 48 ^th minute with Kerolin again the goalscorer. Courage defender Kaleigh Kurtz picked out Kerolin with a pass on the left side of the field, leaving plenty of room for the forward to work with. Kerolin then cut her way into the penalty area and slotted home past Franch for her team’s second goal of the night.
However, Kansas City was not done and gave the home crowd something to cheer for in the 56 ^th minute when they completed the first phase of their comeback in the form of an equalizing goal from forward CeCe Kizer. Having earned a corner, midfielder Alexis Loera stepped up to the set piece and swung in a ball toward the center of goal that found the head of Kizer above all else. Kizer’s glancing header then flew over the defense and past Murphy to bring her side level just ahead of the hour mark.
Three minutes later, the Current then upped the ante for the final time when forward Kristen Hamilton found the back of the net to restore Kansas City’s lead with a poacher’s goal from just a few yards out. Midfielder Hailie Mace attempted a shot from just outside the box that was blocked but ultimately brought back into her possession. Mace then fed a pass to teammate Kate Del Fava on the right side of the penalty area, where she then slotted a perfect ball across the face of goal for Hamilton. The forward then slid into the path of the pass and bundled the ball over the line for the Current’s third goal.
With just under a half hour to play in regulation, Kansas City had attempts in the 62 ^nd and 74 ^th minute saved as Hamilton was denied twice to keep the match tight. However, neither side would end up adding to their respective tally as the Current edged the Courage for a big three points at home.
The result pushes Kansas City’s unbeaten run to 12 games, which includes three wins in their last four games, while North Carolina’s momentum is halted as their back-to-back wins are canceled out by consecutive one-goal losses to the Current (4-3, August 13).

Match Highlights

Match Highlights