September 13, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Releases
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Kansas City Current (11-3-6, 39 points, third) held the Orlando Pride (14-0-6, 48 points, first) to a 0-0 draw in a highly anticipated rematch at Inter&Co Stadium. The Current earned a hard-fought point to maintain third place in the NWSL table, and goalkeeper Almut Schulte made several key saves for the Current, keeping his team’s second straight clean sheet. For the second time this season, both teams ended scoreless.
“Both teams are very good teams and we have a lot of respect for each other,” said Current head coach Vlatko Andonovsky. “Both teams treated this game like a chess match and it was interesting to see how both teams reacted to certain actions by their players.”
Kansas City entered the game with the most offense in the league and the most goals scored in the league with 43. Meanwhile, Orlando entered the game with the stingiest defense in the league, allowing just 12 goals this season. The NWSL’s heavyweights are ready to make a splash.
Orlando and goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse held Kansas City’s powerful attack to a halt in the first half, facing seven shots, four of which came inside the box.
They had several chances from the beginning, including Schilt blocking Orlando striker Marta’s long-range shot in the 17th minute.
In the 19th minute, Kansas City striker Deviña led the team’s most promising attack of the half. She followed the play, received a pass, and beat Vanessa DiBernardo at the top of the box. The veteran midfielder cleverly slid a shot that fell towards the far post, but Moorhouse was able to get it.
Schulte saved Orlando striker Adriana’s second long-range effort in the 28th minute. As the game continued, striker Temwa Chawinga had two chances in nine minutes. Chawinga fired an off-balance shot from the top of the box in the 31st minute, but Moorhouse easily saved the shot. The 40th minute wasn’t so easy. Chawinga swatted past Pride defender Emily Sams and rounded the goalkeeper, but a strong touch around Moorhouse forced Chawinga to go in from a difficult angle as her shot went wide.
A tight first half and the two powerhouses went into the locker room with a scoreless draw at half-time. 0-0. Each team has only had one scoreless draw this season.
Current came out aggressively in the first half and almost opened the scoring straight away. Debinha passed to striker Nichelle Prince on 47 minutes, who looked to have a chance, but was ruled offside on her on-ball pass.
Highlight reel jumper Schulte tipped a Banda attempt over the crossbar to keep the game level in the 52nd minute. DiBernardo then gave Kansas City a powerful chance to take the lead in the 77th minute when he kicked a corner kick into traffic, but Moorhouse caught the ball with his outstretched hand after it hit the post.
In the 80th minute, the Kansas City goalkeeper made two more big saves. Reading Marta’s chance, Schulte dived to his right to send the shot wide and out of danger, then extended his arm for the second shot.
The league’s two most aggressive teams played to a 0-0 draw, with KC picking up a crucial point from Orlando.
The Current returns home next week to face another top spot on the NWSL table. Kansas City hosts the second-place Washington Spirit on Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. Kansas City fans can tune in to the game on 90.9 The Bridge or on the Kansas City Current app.
NWSL Match Report
Matchup: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current
Date: September 13, 2024
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
Start: 7:10 PM CT/8:10 PM ET
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy
Attendees: 9,396
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Score Summary
target
1
2
F
Orlando
0
0
0
Kansas City
0
0
0
Orlando Pride lineup: Moorhouse, Angelina (73′ Gautrat), Abelo, Sams, Strom, Dyke, McCutcheon, Marta ©, Adriana, Banda, Yates (61′ Duljan)
Unused substitutes: Crone, Watt, Lawrence, Martinez, Doyle, Pickett, Celia
Kansas City current lineup: Schulte, Mays (88′ Rodriguez), Sharples, Cook, Ball (61′ Cooper), DiBernardo (83′ Scott), LaVonta ©, Devinha, Chawinga, Prince (61′ Janerato), Wheeler
Unused substitutes: Franch, Ballisager, Feist, Hamilton, Magaia
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