Preview: Spirit Seeks Season Series Sweep of Kansas City Current on Friday Night
Kansas City, Mo. (09/19/2024) – The Washington Spirit will face the Kansas City Current on Friday in the final regular season matchup between the sides this year. The match begins at 8 p.m. EDT at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri and will be broadcast nationally on Prime. Fans can also listen to the match on the Washington Spirit Radio Network.
The Spirit
The Spirit enters Friday’s match with Kansas City following one of its most dominant performances of the season – a 3-0 defeat of the Houston Dash. Notably, Ashley Hatch reprised her starting role at forward and dominated with a brace in the first 26 minutes of the match.
Hatch’s first goal was a seventh minute penalty kick, the fastest attempted or converted penalty by the Spirit this season. The all-time leading scorer in Spirit history is a perfect ten-for-ten from the spot in the regular season on her career (all with the Spirit), launching her to fourth place in NWSL history and tying for first in the Spirit record book. She is the only player in the League’s to attempt more than six penalties and convert all of them.
Trinity Rodman also shined last week. The 22-year-old star notched a goal of her own and added an assist on Hatch’s second goal. It was the first time Rodman, a 2024 Ballon d’Or finalist, logged consecutive matches with a goal and an assist. She also became the youngest player to ever reach 50 goal contributions across all NWSL competitions.
With a victory over Kansas City on Friday, the Spirit will sweep the season series. This would mark consecutive years sweeping the Current in the regular season and would represent the fifth team the Spirit has swept this regular season (Gotham FC, Utah, Houston and Bay FC).
The Spirit has never drawn Kansas City on the road and holds a 2-1-0 record when playing on the Current’s home turf. This includes a stunning come-from-behind victory last year that featured three unanswered goals.
Last match, Esme Morgan made her Spirit and NWSL debut with a start against Houston. The Sheffield, England native came to the Spirit after several years playing with Manchester City. She was signed in June and made a defensive impact on the back line next to Tara McKeown.
Finally, watch out for Hatch who has delivered while featuring more prominently in recent games. Her brace last week was her fifth with the Spirit, most in team history.
Next up, the Spirit continues its three-match away stretch and heads to Los Angeles where it will play Angel City FC on Friday, September 27. The match will kick off at 10 p.m. EDT on Prime.
The Opposition
Kansas City looks forward to its second straight Friday night Prime match. Last week, the Current clashed with the undefeated Orlando Pride resulting in a scoreless draw. This marked only the second time this season either team had been held scoreless.
Orlando’s defense dominated, effectively neutralizing the dangerous Current attack. It was the fourth consecutive clean sheet for Orlando, and it ended forward phenom Temwa Chawinga’s record-setting streak for consecutive games with a goal. Chawinga had scored in eight straight matches prior to the match and is the current Golden Boot leader with 15 goals. Ouleye Sarr and Rodman are tied for fourth in the Golden Boot race with eight goals apiece.
Currently, Kansas City sits in fourth place on the NWSL table with a 11-3-6 (39 points) record. However, the team has struggled of late, winning only one of its last five matches. Those five matches include three straight losses to Orlando, the Spirit and North Carolina.
Despite the recent struggles, the Current are still arguably the NWSL’s most electric offense with a league-leading 43 goals scored. The Spirit is only one goal behind with 42. Other statistical categories that the Spirit and Current lead the NWSL in include assists (Spirit – 29, Current – 26) and big chances created (Current – 64, Spirit – 53).
The Spirit dominated its most recent match against Kansas City to the tune of 4-1. Jumping out to a 3-0 lead, the Spirit held on, scoring on four of its five shots on target. The Current defense had no answer for the Spirit, logging an Audi Field record (NWSL games) 17 fouls in the match. The Current also controlled more possession than the Spirit.
The Current will likely offer a new look in goal with Almut Schult, who replaced AD Franch. The German national has recorded consecutive clean sheets as a member of the Current.
The Current will next face NJ/NY Gotham FC on Saturday, September 28 at 1 p.m. EDT.
Series History
- The Washington Spirit owns a 5-2-0 regular season record against the Kansas City Current. Following the Spirit’s dominant 4-1 victory last time out against the Current, the all-time goal differential is now +3 (13-10) in favor of the Spirit. The Spirit’s road record against the Current is 2-1-0, including a victory in the Spirit’s last trip to Kansas City.
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