The Kansas City Current will play in the NWSL x Liga MX final after win vs. Courage

For the third straight year, the Kansas City Current and North Carolina Courage faced off in the semifinal round of the NWSL’s in-season knockout tournament. And for the first time, KC is moving on after a 2-0 win.

In 2022 and 2023, the Current lost 2-1 and 1-0 to the Courage in the NWSL Challenge Cup semifinals. But this year’s game quickly went the other direction.

Temwa Chawinga returned and scored less than two minutes into the match. Debinha added a second goal late in the second half as the Current advanced to the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil final.

Here’s a look at how KC won on Tuesday night...

Chawinga started the match with a bang. Just 45 seconds in, she took the ball from midfield and nearly scored. A minute later, she finished a chance, picking up a loose ball in the box and shooting low and hard through traffic for a 1-0 lead at CPKC Stadium.

North Carolina did little to threaten the Current goal. The best chance for the visitors came just before the Current extended their lead, when goalkeeper AD Franch saved Ashley Sanchez’s nifty turn and shot in the box. North Carolina had only two shots on target the whole match.

In the 78th minute, Debinha scored her fourth goal of the NWSL Summer Cup, converting a rebounded shot from Chawinga.

The Current advances to the final against New Jersey/New York Gotham FC after Gotham defeated Angel City 1-0 earlier in the day at CPKC Stadium. However, there will be a bit of a wait before then.

The Summer Cup final will be played in the fall, with that match slated for October 25 from Toyota Field in San Antonio.

The Current’s next match is August 14, when it faces the Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the Women’s Cup.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.