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KC Current in top form at NWSL season midpoint

Kansas City Current goalkeeper A.D. Franch shared the joy of her team’s 1-0 win over the OL Reign with fans after the match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Kansas City Current weathered an early storm from Seattle’s OL Reign before taking control of their Sunday evening match at Children’s Mercy Park.

In the end, the shot that counted was a game-winning penalty kick from team captain Lo’eau LaBonta in the 18th minute.

Goalkeeper A.D. Franch was on top of her game as well, making four saves to preserve a shutout and Kansas City win.

The 1-0 home victory continued a three-game win streak and seven-game unbeaten streak that has seen the Current climb from the bottom of the NWSL standings to fifth place and playoff contention as the season hits its mid-point.

OL Reign was on the front foot from the get-go, winning two set pieces inside the opening five minutes. Tziarra King and Bethan Balcer both narrowly missed shots to open the action.

Against the run of play, Current midfielder Victoria Pickett earned a penalty kick when she was brought down by Reign defender Phoebe McClernon on a run into the 18-yard box. Lo’eau LaBonta took the kick and hit it high into the right corner to put the home team up 1-0.

OL Reign nearly earned the goal right back in the next few minutes, forcing a save, two blocks and a shot off the post in quick succession.

The hydration break at the 30th minute was a turning point for the home side. Down 9 shots to 1, the Current began to press the issue before halftime, getting three shots off in first half stoppage time.

The Current continued its dominant run after halftime, with Kristen Hamilton hitting two crosses to CeCe Kizer just after the break, though Kizer’s shots were off the mark both times.

Hamilton nearly doubled the lead with a great run in the 70th minute, but her low shot to the left corner was saved by OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

As time ran down, the Reign pushed numbers high up the field but was unable to find an equalizing goal.

Kansas City defender Alex Loera, a force on both ends of the pitch in the match, was carried off the field with a lower leg injury in stoppage time. She will be evaluated by the team’s medical staff on Monday.

After the match, head coach Matt Potter praised his team’s growth this season.

“I think the journey that we’re on as a group is still to be continued,” said the coach, “but we definitely like where we’re going. So if we can continue to do the things that we like to do, keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard like we do every day, then hopefully there’s more nights like this in the future.”

The Current has the week off before returning to training in advance of the next home game on July 31 against the Orlando Pride.

Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta struck a penalty kick that put the Current up 1-0 in the 18th minute. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward CeCe Kizer got a partial deflection on a clearance from Reign defender Sam Hiatt. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Elyse Bennett had a promising scoring opportunity snuffed out by Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Victoria Pickett was dropped in the penalty area to earn the game-winning penalty kick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Kate Del Fava raced toward the Reign goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce leaped to snare a shot from Kristen Hamilton in the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward CeCe Kizer raced for the ball against Reign midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Kristen Hamilton crossed the ball from the right side to CeCe Kizer in the middle. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Hailie Mace pushed up the left wing toward the Reign goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Kristen Hamilton got a shot on goal past the attempted block from Reign defender Sam Hiatt. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Red Bulls play rough, beat Sporting KC 1-0

Defender Aaron Long slid in to disrupt a shot by forward Johnny Russell in Sunday’s match between Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls. New York won the match 1-0. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City let too many opportunities go wanting Sunday evening and let three sorely needed points slip through its grasp and into the clutches of the New York Red Bulls, who triumphed 1-0.

Despite taking 17 shots, including a couple of fine one-on-one chances by Johnny Russell against New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, Kansas City could not find the back of the net.

Sporting was most successful creating chances down the left side with speedy left back Logan Ndenbe connecting passes to Daniel Salloi and Cam Duke.

The teams were scoreless at halftime, but New York got the game-winner in the 53rd minute via a long range delivery from Lewis Morgan to Aaron Long, who headed the ball in from 6 yards out.

The Red Bulls’ defense played on the edge of violence, racking up a 20-10 disparity in fouls called, and even more uncalled. The brutal play caught up with them in the 68th minute when defender Sean Nealis was shown a red card for a handball that denied Cam Duke an obvious goal-scoring opportunity as he made a clean run into the New York 18-yard box.

Kansas City was unable to turn the man advantage to its favor, and New York still found counter-attacking opportunities despite limited possession time.

An insincere rash of injuries plagued the Red Bulls in the late stages of the match as one after another hit the turf in a barely disguised scheme of time-wasting. The cynical ploy drew the wrath of the Kansas City faithful, and of Kansas City manager Peter Vermes, who denounced it after the game.

“That’s a mockery what took place on the field,” said the coach. “Just the antics, I don’t believe in it. I have no respect for it. I think those things have to be different in our league.”

Kansas City plays its next three games on the road, starting at CF Montreal on July 10. The team’s next match at Children’s Mercy Park will be on July 23 against Los Angeles FC.

After a video assisted review, referee Marcos DeOliveira issued a red card to New York defender Sean Nealis for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Johnny Russell got a shot away but went sprawling in the process. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Felipe Hernandez arced a free kick over the Red Bulls’ wall. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Defender Logan Ndenbe showed some skill to avoid New York forward Cameron Harper. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Cam Duke raced for the ball against New York defender Sean Nealis after Nealis’s arm knocked the ball away from him. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Felipe Hernandez took a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Chased by two Red Bulls defenders, forward Daniel Salloi sprinted for some open space. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Police Athletic League camp teaches football, life skills

Future running backs went through agility and speed drills at the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Athletic League football camp on Saturday at Bishop Ward’s Dorney Field. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Athletic League sponsored a football camp on Saturday for ages 8 to 18, with around 150 young athletes participating.

The camp, held at Bishop Ward’s Dorney Field, brought together local high school and youth coaches, former NFL players, and police volunteers for a day of building football skills and community relationships.

Before the camp started, former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Gehrig Dieter talked about his father, who was a police officer in South Bend, Indiana.

“My dad was always my coach,” said Dieter, “and I just know the impact he’s had on people, on my former teammates that still keep up with him, and he still keeps up with them. I think having that impact, that lasting relationship, is such a huge thing.”

Dieter, who retired from professional football earlier this month after five years with the Chiefs, looked like a future coach as he smoothly led drills with a group of about 15 middle school and high school receivers.

The young athletes started in a large group for stretching and warmups and then split into age and position groups to drill on specific skills.

With the camp’s theme of Tackling Conflict Together, campers also had the opportunity to hear about making good lifestyle choices and to commit to a future of nonviolence.

The camp was the first of what is planned to be an annual event. Police Chief Karl Oakman expressed his hopes for what the camp and other police – community events can accomplish.

“We do a lot of enforcement things,” said the chief. “We’re going to do those. We have to do those, but I think it’s important to make sure that we’re putting resources in our young people, not only just to reduce violence but to increase that positive relationship between the police and young people.”