Oct 19, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; The Kansas City Current celebrate an own goal by the San Diego Wave FC during the first half at CPKC Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images Michelle Cooper led the Kansas City Current with two first half goals in a 4-1 home win against the San Diego Wave on Saturday.
Joining Cooper in Kansas City (15-3-7, 52 points) scoring was Temwa Chawinga, who increased her already league-record single-season scoring total to 20 goals. With the goal, Chawinga is the first NWSL player to score on all 13 active teams in a single season.
Chawinga’s goal came in the 54th minute when teammate Nichelle Prince fought off two Wave defenders before sending a pass to the feet of Chawinga. The prolific goal scorer sent a rocket into the top of the net from the top of the six-yard box. The play was close to offside, but VAR confirmed the goal after a lengthy review.
In the 22nd minute, Cooper scored from 18 yards out after Kaitlyn Torpey blocked a cross and Cooper sent the ball underneath a diving Kailen Sheridan into the right corner of the net.
Then, in the 31st minute, Cooper went for a cross that Sheridan attempted to catch but it was too high for the goalkeeper. It hit off Sheridan’s glove and went in for an own goal.
Late in the match, Debinha added a fourth goal for Kansas City and, with the match out of reach, Delphine Cascarino scored the lone goal for San Diego (5-13-7, 22 points).
The Current victory extends the team’s streak to seven matches without a loss, which puts Kansas City in second place in the NWSL standings with one regular-season match remaining.
San Diego’s loss means the Wave are eliminated from the 2024 NWSL playoffs.
–Field Level Media
