KC Current wins NWSL playoff opener, getting game’s lone goal from Temwa Chawinga

The Kansas City Current needed just one goal Saturday to beat the North Carolina Courage in a midday National Women’s Soccer League playoff quarterfinal at CPKC Stadium.

And KC got that goal from — who else? — star forward Temwa Chawinga, beating the visitors from Carolina 1-0 to advance to next weekend’s NWSL semifinals.

The Current has become a stingy defensive team in the second half of the season. KC conceded 31 goals in 26 regular-season games overall this year, but just three in the final eight.

Toss in Saturday’s playoff game and the Summer Cup final, and the Current has given up just three goals in 10 matches.

After Saturday’s triumph, KC coach Vlatko Andonovski recalled how the season began. Some of those matches were serious goal-feats.

“I know it was exciting,” Andonovski said. “I know fans love it and it’s what brings people to the stadium. But I also knew that going into the playoffs, one to zero games are important.

“It’s important because when we come into situations like this, where the season is on the line, where the teams get a little more conservative, it’s harder to score goals.”

Playing airtight defense requires skill and strong mentality — a commitment to doing everything in one’s power to keep the ball out of the net. The Current did that against the Courage.

“Our mentality from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is what has got us to this point,” Current midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo said. “I think we just want to be relentless, win balls and do what we can to turn defensive pressure into an attacking opportunity.”

KC’s Hailie Mace was excellent throughout the match, as was rookie defender Ellie Wheeler, who was tasked with trying to shut down last season’s league MVP, Kerolin.

Kerolin was subbed off after 75 minutes, having taken just two shots. Andonovski praised his team’s collective effort.

“We talked a lot about that leading up to the game, that we are going to win this game together,” the coach said. “No one is going to go in and win individually. It will take all of us and we have to be together.”

Chawinga’s goal came early in the game. She scored her remarkable 24th of the year (across all competitions) in the eighth minute, knocking in a deflection during a barrage on the Courage net.

Chawinga’s initial shot was saved expertly by Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy. Debinha’s follow-up then ricocheted off the post to Chawinga, whose first try was blocked on the line by Kayleigh Kurtz.

But once again, the ball bounced back to Chawinga, who finally put it into an empty net.

The Current proceeded to protect that 1-0 lead for the next 94 minutes, including stoppage time. KC keeper Almuth Schult made four saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Schult’s biggest save came when she fumbled a header from Kerolin that looked like it might squirm into the net. Schult got a strong hand on top of the ball right in front of the goal line.

Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo poked the ball into the net from under her grasp. However, that action was a foul and was correctly called back.

“Whenever a goalkeeper has a hand on the ball, and the ball is not moving, it’s the goalkeeper’s ball and you’re not allowed to kick it,” Schult explained.

The Current now moves on to the semifinal round of the NWSL postseason. KC will play the top-seeded Orlando Pride on the road next weekend.

The league will announce the full semifinal-round schedule, including time and TV for the Current’s next match, on Sunday.

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