KC Current top Seattle to earn their first NWSL Shield

Audio By Carbonatix

The Kansas City Current secured the franchise’s first NWSL Shield on Saturday night with a 2-0 win over the Seattle Reign in Kansas City.

Kansas City (17-2-2, 53 points) extended their streak without a loss to 14 matches in the victory.

Debinha scored the Current’s first goal on a penalty kick in the 34th minute. Angharad James-Turner’s arm stopped a cross from going into the box and after a VAR review, the official awarded Kansas City a penalty kick that Debinha buried into the left corner.

Temwa Chawinga then scored her 13th goal of the season in the 74th minute after a shot by Bia Zaneratto bounced off goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. Chawinga headed the loose ball into the back of the net. It puts Chawinga at the top of the NWSL Golden Boot race, taking the lead over Esther Gonzalez on the assist tiebreaker 3-0.

The win is the 10th at home for Kansas City this season and the 17th on the season, with five matches remaining. One more win matches the league record of 18 wins by the Orlando Pride last season.

Kansas City posted its 14th clean sheet of the season and ninth in a row.

Seattle (8-7-6, 30 points) had trouble stopping the Kansas City press and couldn’t mount much offense. In the first half, the Current outshot the Reign 14-0. It took 62 minutes before the Reign took their first shot, and the Current ended the night with an 18-9 shot advantage.

In the second half, the Reign found opportunities despite not having Mia Fishel for most of the second half due. The US International and former Chelsea standout left the match in the 52nd minute, with veteran Jess Fishlock taking her place.

The loss by Seattle extends the side’s winless streak to five matches. The Reign still sit in a playoff spot at sixth place.

–Field Level Media