By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Current have continued their impressive 2022 season after going into Seattle and defeating the OL Reign 2-0 to advance to the NWSL Championships where they will face off with Portland Thorns FC.
Kansas City is now just one step away from completing a journey that has never been done before, winning a championship just one year after finishing at the bottom of the league in the previous season.
The Current saw goals from midfielder Alexis Loera and forward Kristen Hamilton in the win. Loera's goal came just four minutes into the match, which broke the Current's record previously held for fastest goal in an NWSL Playoff match.
The current would follow up the opening goal by attacking early and often, finding a few chances getting the ball into the penalty box, but failing shot on goal attempts. The best follow up opportunity came in the 25th minute when Hamilton held up play inside the box and laid the ball off to Loera just outside the penalty area. Loera’s shot would ultimately land wide of the near post and the chance went missing
The Reign put pressure on all through the first half pressing the visitors’ goal with forward Jordyn Huitema missing on a similar effort as she failed to beat Kansas City goalkeeper Adrianna Franch at her near post.
Minutes later, Franch was forced into a save in the 31st minute on a point-blank headed effort from Huitema that kept the visitors on their respective toes. Down the left side of the field, Reign attacker Megan Rapinoe took Kansas City defender Kate Del Fava one-on-one and eventually lifted a cross in toward Huitema. Rushing to meet the pass, Huitema got plenty of power on her header but not enough direction as Franch got big to keep the ball out and preserve her side’s slender lead.
Not clear of the danger just yet as halftime approached, the Reign made sure to test Franch twice more and put their stamp on the match. First, right on the stroke of the end of regular time and second into the second minute of added time, Franch ultimately blocking both shot on goal attempts.
The deciding goal would come just after the hour mark and against the run of play, as Hamilton would put the Current in an extremely advantageous position with a clinical finish from just inside the box to go two up. Weaving her way through the Reign defense, Hamilton broke into the box and preventing a defender from getting in front of her as she cut onto her right foot and fired a low effort to the bottom left corner.
Kansas City will now face Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL Championship on Saturday, October 29 at Audi Field with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on CBS.