Kansas City Current wins overwhelming victory in Summer Cup opener

The 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup kicked off with a soccer spectacle that delighted the fans at CPKC Stadium. Kansas City Current took to the field with determination and emerged victorious with an impressive 3-1 win over the Houston Dash, thanks to Lo'eau LaBonta's 68th-minute winner and a stellar team performance.

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Just 55 seconds into the first half, Michelle Cooper opened the scoring for Kansas City, showing that the team had everything. Cooper, who already held the record for the club's fastest goal, now added another feat to her career. It was a quick and well-coordinated move, with Izzy Rodriguez launching a long pass down the left flank that found Temwa Chawinga. She crossed for Cooper, who finished with precision into the corner of the goal, beating goalkeeper Erin McKinney.

Current continued to press and almost added to their lead in the sixth minute when Bayley Feist headed a ball that hit the crossbar. Despite several chances, it was the Houston Dash who managed to equalize in the 20th minute. Yuki Nagasato intercepted a loose ball in midfield and, with a powerful long-range shot, scored a stunning goal to level the scores.

But Kansas City were undeterred and continued to search for the winning goal. Cooper was tireless, hitting the post and creating other good opportunities. Current's defense also shone, with AD Franch making a spectacular save in the 40th minute, deflecting a shot that was heading for the corner.

In the second half, the Houston Dash tried to turn the game around with dangerous headers from Diana Ordóñez, but the crossbar and the Current defense prevented the goals. It was then that Vlatko Andonovski made crucial substitutions in the 65th minute, bringing Desiree Scott and Kristen Hamilton onto the pitch. The change had an immediate effect. In the 68th minute, Hamilton deflected a free-kick from Debinha, leaving LaBonta free to score. The shot was saved by McKinney, but the ball escaped and went into the goal, putting Current back in front.

And the icing on the cake came in the 83rd minute, when Hamilton took advantage of a mistake by the Dash defense, came face to face with the goalkeeper and didn't miss. With this goal, Hamilton reached the 40-goal mark in her career, becoming the 17th player in NWSL history to achieve this feat.

Coach Andonovski stressed the importance of staying focused game by game, especially with the opening win. He recognized the value of the experience and chemistry of the team, which showed it was well prepared after a two-week break. His words resonate with the determination of a team that is willing to fight for every point.

Kansas City Current showed strength, skill and resilience, factors that will be essential for the rest of the competition. With a convincing win in their opening game, the team took an important step towards the Summer Cup title. Now it's time to prepare for the next challenges and keep up the strong pace.

Meanwhile, the Houston Dash will have to restructure and correct their mistakes for the upcoming matches. Erin McKinney's debut in goal was a highlight, despite the negative result. The team showed potential, but will need more consistency to compete on equal terms with their opponents.