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KC NWSL sprints past Houston Dash 3-0

Defender Elizabeth Ball (7) headed in a free kick to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead against the Houston Dash on Wednesday. Kansas City would go on to win the match 3-0. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Kansas City NWSL’s defense shouldered the load on Sunday, but on Wednesday it was the offense’s turn, racking up three goals and holding Houston scoreless to set the team’s largest winning margin in its short history.

Darian Jenkins’ 18th minute goal was a thing of beauty. From 18 yards out on the left side, she curled the ball with a graceful arc into the far upper corner of the goal. Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell leaped, but had no chance at a save.

After the game, Jenkins said that she had been practicing the shot and was happy to see it come into play during a match.

In the later stages of the first half, Kansas City stepped up its offensive intensity. Accurate passing in the build-up kept the home side in possession for extended runs.

In the 30th minute, Jenkins centered the ball for a header from Julie Bowen, but the shot was off target. Just after, Kiki Pickett took a shot up the middle saved by Campbell.

The pressure paid off in the 37th minute when Elizabeth Ball nodded in for a 2-0 lead and her first goal of the season. Julie Bowen set up the score with a free kick from the right side that dropped into a scrum of players about six yards out from the goal.

Kansas City didn’t give up on its attack after halftime, but the opportunities were fewer, with Houston clamping down on passing lanes.

A long range Addie McCain blast up the middle put a scare into the Dash in the 75th minute, ricocheting off the crossbar. In the 76th minute, Lo’eau LaBonta sent a well-placed cross into the box, but frustratingly couldn’t find a runner to finish it.

Kansas City scored the capper on a penalty kick in stoppage time. Jessica Silva earned the penalty when she beat the Houston defense and was fouled by Campbell. Lo’eau LaBonta took the kick and mashed a no-doubter into the lower left corner.

A climb up the NWSL standings now looks possible for Kansas City NWSL. Racing Louisville FC, loser in five of its last six, now sits just 2 points in front of Kansas City.

Kansas City’s next match will be at the Chicago Red Stars on Oct. 16. The next home match will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 against NJ-NY Gotham FC.

Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta scored on a penalty kick in second half stoppage time. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell fouled forward Jessica Silva late in the match. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Desiree Scott headed the ball toward the Houston goal. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Houston defender Katie Naughton went up against Kansas City forward Kate Del Fava to clear the ball. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Jessica Silva blocked an attempted clearance from Houston defender Katie Naughton. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Addie McCain took a shot on goal in the first half. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Mariana Larroquette collected the ball in the Houston end.
(Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Darian Jenkins headed the ball in toward the Houston goal. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Defender Maddie Nolf crossed the ball in front of Houston defender Allysha Chapman. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Addie McCain challenged Houston midfielder Sophie Schmidt. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Darian Jenkins beat forward Nichelle Prince to take a goal-scoring shot in the first half. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Katie Bowen took a shot on the Houston goal in the first half. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Mariana Larroquette and defender Abby Dahlkemper raced for control of the ball. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Franch named to USWNT training camp roster for October matches

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has named a 21-player training camp roster for the upcoming October matches against Korea Republic which will mark the USWNT return of Kansas native and Kansas City NWSL goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and the final appearances for legend Carli Lloyd in a U.S. uniform.

The USA will take on Korea Republic at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas (on ESPN2 and TUDN) and then will travel to St. Paul, Minnesota to complete that two-game series at Allianz Field at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 (7 p.m. on TUDN).

The USWNT begins its BioSteel Training Camp on Oct. 18 in Andonovski’s home area of Kansas City to prepare for its final domestic matches of the year.

The match in Kansas City, Kansas, also represents a homecoming of sorts for Franch, who hails from Salina, Kansas, and currently plays in the NWSL with Kansas City. A 2019 World Cup champion and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, Franch is the only player from Kansas to ever make a world championship roster for the USA.

The trip to Minnesota also marks a return to the roots of the U.S. Women’s National Team program. The USWNT played its first nine domestic games in Blaine, Minnesota, over 1986 (2 games), 1987 (4 games) and 1990 (3 games) at what was then the Blaine Soccer Complex and later the National Sports Center.

Before the game in Kansas City, midfielder Lindsey Horan will be honored for reaching 100 caps. Horan, 27, is the 41st USWNT player to earn that distinction. The Colorado native earned her 100th cap during the Olympics on July 24 in a 6-1 victory against New Zealand, a match in which she scored her 23rd international goal.

The roster features 17 players from the bronze medal-winning 2020 Olympic Team, plus four additions in forwards Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith, midfielder Andi Sullivan and defender Emily Fox. Pugh, Sullivan and Smith were on the roster for the USA’s two wins over Paraguay in September (with Sullivan and Smith scoring their first international goals during that series) while Fox was named to her first roster since matches against Colombia in January at which she earned her fourth cap. Fox also participated in training camp prior to the start of the 2021 SheBelieves Cup.

Forward Megan Rapinoe returns to the roster after missing the September games due to injury, and while goalkeeper Alyssa Naher and midfielders Samantha Mewis and Julie Ertz will join the camp, they are not yet ready to play as they continue to rehab from injuries. Forward Christen Press and defender Crystal Dunn opted out of the matches.

“It’s been a stressful few weeks for the players and staff and the well-being of our players has and always will come first,” said U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “We always want to keep improving and evolving as a team, win every game we play, and put on a good show for the fans, but during this camp we will really focus on a few basic things – continuing to support each other while getting to do what we love on the field, and of course, giving Carli Lloyd the send-off she deserves.”

All the players and staff will operate in monitored environments for the duration of the two-game series. Trainings and the matches will fall under the comprehensive U.S. Soccer Return to Play Protocols and Guidelines and in accordance with the Concacaf Return to Play Protocols. Everyone entering the controlled environment will be tested for COVID-19 before traveling, upon arrival and periodically thereafter.

Tickets for both October matches are currently on sale via www.ussoccer.com. In accordance with the local health authorities, and in cooperation with each stadium, as well as the U.S. Soccer medical team, tickets for these matches will be available at near full capacity.

KC NWSL defends home turf, holds Thorns scoreless 0-0

Midfielder Katie Bowen crossed the ball in front of the Portland goal in Kansas City’s 0-0 draw against the Thorns Sunday evening. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Kansas City NWSL held the high-powered Portland Thorns to a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. The draw is Kansas City’s fifth consecutive match at home without a loss, dating back to July 23.

Given the disparity in results for Kansas City and Portland so far this season, and Kansas City’s early defensive problems, the outcome is a promising one. Portland had not been held scoreless since July 11.

Kansas City played the first half in an exaggerated defensive stance, waiting until near the midfield line to challenge Thorns’ ball handlers and not committing large numbers forward, even on corner kicks.

The strategy paid off with a goal-free first half. Kansas City’s best opportunity came in the 45th minute on a high-velocity shot from Darian Jenkins, but it was was saved by Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby.

The home side was a bit more venturesome to start the second half, pressuring the Portland defense multiple times in the opening minutes. However, after the early flurry, Kansas City settled back in defensively.

A shot from Katie Bowen in the 67th minute was saved by Bixby and bounced around briefly in front of the Portland goal, but Kansas City wasn’t able to get a foot on it.

A Portland penalty kick in the 85th minute could have been the decider, but forward Christine Sinclair’s right-footed attempt banged off the left post and Kansas City cleared the ball.

Kansas City’s defense held off some late Portland pressure, but needed a diving save from goalkeeper Adrianna Franch in stoppage time to seal the draw.

Kansas City’s next match will be at home against the Houston Dash on Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m.