Kansas City’s current forward and 2024 NWSL Golden Boot winner, Temwa Chawinga, could play in Sunday’s high-profile semifinal against the Orlando Pride, but current coach Vlatko Andonovski is waiting on her. He said he wasn’t sure how many games he would play.
“She was able to complete the entire training today,” Andonovski told reporters Friday. “Obviously all the measurements are now just to see how everything goes. Yes, she will be available. The only question is, ‘For how long?'”
Chawinga missed Kansas City’s regular season finale with a knee injury on November 3, and was questionable for the team ahead of the team’s quarterfinal game against the North Carolina Courage on November 10. She started and played the full 90 minutes, scoring the game’s only goal to help Kansas City advance to the semifinals.
After the game, Andonovski said the opposition was ‘targeting’ Chawinga. The forward, who broke the NWSL’s single-season record with 20 goals this year, was fouled late and taunted by Courage forward Bianca St. Georges before Kansas City defender Eli Wheeler put St. Georges on the back foot.
Next up for the No. 4 seeds is Kansas City visiting No. 1 seed Orlando on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC). The finals are lined up to be held on November 23rd at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.
Orlando hasn’t lost at home all season and defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-1 in the quarterfinals last week.
The Pride beat Kansas City 2-1 last July in a battle between the then-undefeated teams. Orlando won the game despite having to play the entire second half due to Carrie Lawrence’s red card before half-time, with captain Marta celebrating wildly after the final whistle.
Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper posted on Instagram that night, “We’ll remember how they acted after the cameras turned off.”
The two teams met again in Orlando last September and ended in a scoreless draw.
Orlando defenseman Kylie Strom said Friday that a rivalry is brewing between the two teams.
“Every time we get ready to play, there’s a different feel and atmosphere in the locker room, and it feels like there’s more motivation, more focus, for whatever reason,” Strom said. “I think it’s a credit to both teams. They’re a good enough opponent that we should be locked in, so it’s going to be fun. I think both times we played them there was a little bit of drama, so I I’m sure the game will be much more than that.”
Pride forward Barbra Banda finished second in the league with 13 goals in the regular season. Banda and Chawinga were locked in a fierce battle for the Golden Boot after the Olympic break until Chawinga scored in seven of eight games in a row while Banda scored just one goal. Banda returned to his scoring ways last week, scoring a brace against Chicago.
Both teams feature talent beyond their primary scoring threats. Orlando are the top seeds and Shield winners after going undefeated in their first 23 games of the year and setting a new league points record in a season (60). Kansas City broke the single-season scoring record (57 goals) and has remained undefeated since September 1.
“One of the most important things for us is that we have to defend well as a unit,” Andonovski said. “They are a very good team and very organized. If we give them a little space, they will exploit them.”
Kansas City will play for the right to play in the finals at its home stadium later this month, and the NWSL decided on the championship site months in advance. However, Orlando will be hoping to capitalize on their home form.
“That’s it.” Strom said. “The Inter&Co Stadium has become a fortress for us. The fans have shown so much this year, and it has been so much fun to play. It’s a huge plus.”
The Washington Spirit and defending league champion NJ/NY Gotham FC face off in the semifinals on Saturday to battle for the second and third seeds, respectively. All four top seeds advanced in the first actual quarterfinal playoff round in NWSL history.
Spirit coach Jonatan Giraldes said his team needed a “perfect game” to win, while coach Juan Carlos Amoros said there was no additional pressure as the defending champions.
“I think the pressure comes from within us,” said the Gotham FC coach. “I think how much we want to win. That hasn’t changed. Every time we go to the football stadium, we want to show that. To show that we are the best team.”
