**KANSAS CITY, Kan.** – The Kansas City Current ended their winless run to start the season thanks to two goals in four minutes in the second half en route to a 2-0 win over the Orlando Pride at home. Debinha’s strike in the 64 ^th minute, assisted by Hailie Mace, was followed up by a goal from Cece Kizer in the 68 ^th minute, also assisted by Mace, to lift the Current on the day.
Early on, Kansas City looked to jump out in front in the 8 ^th minute as Debinha was involved in the action and nearly found the back of the net from close in. After forward Michelle Cooper had missed moments earlier, Debinha was given a chance at the back post from a Vanessa DiBernardo cross. Meeting the ball, the Brazilian would get plenty on her effort but watched as it ricocheted off the post and eventually clear by the Orlando defense as the game’s first opportunity went missing.
The two teams took over the 20 minute mark to produce another quality opportunity on either side, but Orlando’s Marta provided an opportunity for the visitors to capitalize on their first chance in the 24 ^th minute. After winning a corner, the Pride sent bodies forward for Marta’s delivery, and her ball into the box landed on the head of teammate Caitlin Cosme, who made great contact toward goal. However, Cosme was unable to direct the ball on frame and watched as her effort landed narrowly wide.
As the first half continued, Kansas City and Orlando traded looks at goal with neither truly threatening the other’s goal despite plenty of outlets toward it. Most of the Pride’s chances came from set pieces, and while forwards Cooper and Kizer had opportunities to put efforts on frame, Kizer’s header in the 39 ^th minute landed high of the goal and Cooper’s distance strike in the 41 ^st minute was easily collected.
At the break, the pair were square with no goals between them.
Into the second half, the earliest highlight was Debinha’s 64 ^th minute strike that propelled the hosts in front. A giveaway in the Orlando defense allowed Kansas City players to swarm and regain possession, which led to Hailie Mace slipping in the midfielder Debinha in the penalty area. Debinha did well to weave around a pair of Pride players before calmly slotting a low shot past Orlando goalkeeper Carly Nelson and in. The goal was Debinha’s second of the year after scoring in Kansas City’s 4-2 loss to Chicago.
Then, just four minutes later, forward Cece Kizer scored her second goal of the regular season when she latched onto Hailie Mace’s cross into the center of the penalty area and knocked her shot forward and in. Mace had gotten on the end of a through pass down the right side and spotted the run of Kizer dead center of the 18-yard box. Weighting her pass perfectly, Mace found Kizer who was left with little to do but put the effort on frame as she bundled the ball over the line to double the hosts’ advantage.
In the 70 ^th minute, Orlando came close again via a set piece as Adriana found forward Messiah Bright with a cross following a corner. Bright, who is Orlando’s lone goalscorer on the year, got on the end of Adriana’s ball in and rifled her headed effort from close in off the crossbar only for the Kansas City defense to eventually get the ball clear.
In the end, Orlando’s best efforts would not be enough as Kansas City capitalized on its goal blitz just after the hour mark to earn its first win of the year. Kansas City still sits in 11 ^th place after four games behind North Carolina on goal differential, but Orlando remains bottom of the table in 12 ^th place still without a point in their four games played.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights