NWSL Results: Current top Courage after scoring blitz

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Two matches were on deck on Saturday night in the National Women’s Soccer League.




North Carolina Courage 3, Kansas City Current 4



The Skinny: A seven goal affair was in the cards on Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park, and in the end the Kansas City Current came out on top over the North Carolina Courage.




One Key Moment: While North Carolina took the lead three times throughout the match – only for Kansas City to equalize each time – it was the Current who were able to grab the late winner.




A serious defensive breakdown by the Courage led to the winner. First, Elizabeth Ball forced a turnover in the middle of the park, and sent the ball forward to Claire Lavogez. The substitute was able to dribble uncontested all the way from the centre circle to the top of the penalty area, and she unleashed a stunning strike into the upper 90, beating Courage keeper Casey Murphy.

CLAIRE LAVOGEZ, STOP IT!

Upper 90 for the substitute and the Current lead! #NCvKC | 3-4 pic.twitter.com/pzJEk6VWF1
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 14, 2022

Inside the Game: Saturday’s back and forth match was one of the most exciting of the NWSL season to date.




Diana Ordoņez opened the scoring early for North Carolina, and in the process became the record holder for most goals by a rookie in an NWSL season with eight. But Kansas City answered back quickly, as they did all game, through a finish by Kristen Hamilton.




The pattern continued, as the Courage took the lead twice more throughout the first and second halves, but their defending consistently let them down, as the Current equalized quickly each time. 




Lo’eau LaBonta was a standout for Kansas City on the night with a goal and an assist, while CeCe Kizer continued her impressive run of form since joining Kansas from Louisville in June, as she scored her fifth goal of the season.




But it was Lavogez who stole the show with an assist on the equalizer and her stunning strike for the winner. It was the Frenchwoman’s first goal in teal since signing in July.




The win extends Kansas City’s unbeaten streak to ten (seven wins and three draws), and puts them into fourth place. At the other end, the perennially competitive Courage find themselves in an unusual spot, occupying the bottom spot of the standings, with just ten points from 12 matches. 




The Goals:

1. North Carolina Courage – Diana Ordoņez (Debinha), 17’
2. Kansas City Current – Kristen Hamilton (Lo’eau LaBonta), 20’
3. North Carolina Courage – Debinha (Kerolin), 36’ 
4. Kansas City Current – Lo’eau LaBonta, 45’
5. North Carolina Courage – Kaleigh Kurtz (Brianna Pinto), 56’
6. Kansas City Current – CeCe Kizer (Claire Lavogez), 60’
7. Kansas City Current – Claire Lavogez (Elizabeth Ball), 79’

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