KC Current Use Dominate 1st Half to Propel Past Portland
- Best of Se7en Co
- Mar 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 18
The Kansas City Current made a statement in their season opener, cruising to a commanding 3-1 victory over the Portland Thorns. KC’s reigning MVP and Golden Boot winner, Temwa Chawinga, wasted no time picking up right where she left off, finding the net just four minutes into the match.
Some fans might not have even settled into their seats before Chawinga’s early strike put the Current up 1-0, a lead they would never relinquish. However, Kansas City wasn’t done making noise.
In the 22nd minute, Chawinga finished off a fastbreak by setting up fellow superstar Debinha for what seemed to be KC’s second goal. However, the celebration was cut short as the goal was ruled offside. The Current barely had time to dwell on the call when just 2 minutes later Michelle Cooper delivered a rifling shot from outside the box into the top corner to extend the lead to 2-0.
Kansas City kept pressing, and just before halftime, Cooper sent a dangerous pass into the box that deflected to Debinha. This time, there was no offside flag, Debinha buried the chance, restoring the goal she had been denied earlier and giving KC a 3-0 advantage at the break.
Portland found a lifeline early in the second half when Olivia Moultrie pulled one back in the 49th minute. The Thorns had a golden opportunity to close the gap even further in the 79th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a handball. Moultrie’s shot, however, hit the crossbar, effectively sealing Portland’s fate.
With an emphatic win in their opener, Kansas City will look to carry that momentum into next week’s clash against the Washington Spirit. Meanwhile, the Thorns return home to face Angel City FC, still without star forward Sophia Smith, who remains on maternity leave.