**SAN DIEGO, Calif.** – The Kansas City Current came to San Diego to face the Wave and are leaving with all three points after two goals in 20 minutes in the first half propelled the Current to victory. Debinha’s rocket of a strike in the 3 ^rd minute sent Kansas City ahead before the lead was doubled due to Kristen Hamilton’s goal. San Diego defender Sierra Enge pulled one back in the 50 ^th minute, but that would be all as San Diego is left in 2 ^nd place with 30 points from 19 games played while Kansas City climb off the bottom to 11 ^th with 22 points from 19 games played.
The Kansas City Current came out swinging early and needed just over two minutes of gameplay to find the back of the net, with midfielder Debinha firing her side in front with a spectacular effort in the 3 ^rd minute. Debinha was on the ball around 25 yards from goal when she picked up her head and opted to rip a shot toward San Diego’s goal. The Brazilian then looked on as her screamer soared into the top right side of the goal and in to lift her team ahead early on. That goal also means Debinha has now scored against 12 different NWSL teams in all competitions.
Then, just under 20 minutes later, Kansas City were able to double their lead as forward Kristen Hamilton found the back of the net to boost the visitor’s attacking prowess. The Current were patiently moving the ball around the San Diego attacking third when a string of passes eventually led to Kate Del Fava whipping in a cross toward the center of the area to pick out Hamilton. Redirecting the ball with her first touch, Hamilton got just enough on the shot to squeeze it past San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and in.
Plenty of first half drama ensued, though, particularly in San Diego’s department as the hosts had multiple penalty shouts denied by the center official even after VAR review. First, a physical challenge on forward Alex Morgan in the box sent that attacker tumbling to the ground, but the tackle was judged to have been clean in the end and we played on. Then, a few minutes later, fellow forward Sofia Jakobsson had a headed effort toward goal redirected off the arm of Del Fava, but again the center official reviewed the footage and opted against the penalty decision.
One final look on goal for San Diego came in the final of seven minutes of added time when Shaw fired on goal following a long ball over the top by her teammate Sheridan. Shaw chested the 60-yard pass down onto the ground and hit the ball almost immediately toward the far post, but her effort landed just inches wide of the wrong side of the frame as the crowd gasped in awe.
After that, the halftime whistle sounded, and Kansas City held on to their two-goal lead at the break.
Into the second half, the hosts were immediately on the attack with defender Sierra Enge scoring her second goal of the season in the 50 ^th minute following a scramble in front of goal. San Diego had won a corner and the delivery into the box saw Kansas City fail to effectively clear the pass. This left Enge to pounce on the ball just in front of goal and fire past Franch as the hosts found themselves back within a goal with plenty of time to play.
Just three minutes later, San Diego continued to knock on Kansas City’s door with forward Makenzy Doniak forcing an impeccable save out of Franch at her near post. Doniak had received a ball in the box on the left side when she attempted to round out a quick counter with a snapshot toward the bottom near side of goal. Franch was able to get down and to the effort in time though, and in doing so kept her team ahead before the hour mark.
San Diego’s push for an equalizer certainly would not relent through the duration of the second half, but unfortunately for them they would also not be able to find the back of the net as the Current maintained what little hope they still have of making the playoffs with a momentous result on the road.