The first match of Kansas City NWSL held Monday night at the Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, ended in a 2-1 loss.
The professional women’s soccer club played the final game of the 2021 Challenge Cup against OL Reign.
It was the first time Kansas City played on its home field, after opening the home schedule last week at Children’s Mercy Park.
An early goal from forward Mallory Weber was not enough as OL Reign scored two goals.
In the sixth minute, midfielder Victoria Pickett slipped a pass through the back line of OL Reign to Weber, who then made two moves on five Reign defenders leading to a right-footed shot to the upper right corner of the net.
“It was limited capacity with COVID, but I thought they did a really good job of making it feel loud and kind of as that 12th man,” Weber said.
Later in the half, Jessica Fishlock of OL Reign made good on a penalty kick to tie the game at 1-1.
Reign took the lead after Celia Jimenez Delgado clipped a header over KC goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart.
Reign now is 2-1-1 in the Challenge Cup, with Kansas City at 0-3-1.
Kansas City now will move on to its first NWSL regular season match at 4 p.m. May 15 in Louisville, Kentucky, against Racing Louisville. The game will be streamed live on Paramount+.