Tag: Alexis Loera

Ambitious Kansas City Current take the next step with upset NWSL playoff win at OL Reign

Franch was a wall, and the Current are heading to the NWSL championship game

The Kansas City Current have nearly completed their attempt to pull off a rare worst-to-first climb in the NWSL.

21,491 fans crowded into Lumen Field, continuing an excellent postseason for NWSL on the attendance front. However, much to their chagrin, they witnessed a star performance from AD Franch, whose seven saves — along with goals from Alexis Loera and Kristen Hamilton — helped carry the Current to a 2-0 semifinal triumph over OL Reign.

A trip to the final in a year where their most prominent offseason acquisitions (USWNT stars Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams) combined for three Challenge Cup appearances and 171 total minutes means Kansas City’s push to deliver on lofty expectations is ahead of schedule.

For Current coach Matt Potter, though, the team’s success is also the product of aiming high on and off the field.

“When I came into the club, I understood what it was that ownership set in terms of the expectation, the ambition that they showed,” Potter said in his post-game remarks. “To be perfectly honest, that was very much aligned with my own thinking and the way we wanted to play… This project was something that I think everybody would love to be a part of.”

Just as was the case in the early game, the lower-seeded visitors struck first, and it was a moment the hosts would rue. The Reign had numerous chances to clear or shepherd play out of danger, but a series of mistakes allowed the Current to keep the attack alive. Alexis Loera eventually steered the ball towards goal, where Phallon Tullis-Joyce got both hands to the ball only for it to slither over the line anyway.

The recipe was perfect for Kansas City, who have made a habit of battling to narrow wins all year. It also helped to have AD Franch in god mode, as the veteran goalkeeper stood on her head from there.

In particular, Franch was locked in for a one-on-one duel with Jess Fishlock, repeatedly denying the Welsh midfielder with top-drawer saves. Franch made arguably her best stop in the 56th minute, somehow getting down in time to parry Fishlock’s low shot from eight yards.

Those saves proved critical as the Current expanded their lead against the run of play. Franch got involved there too, as her punt was flicked on by Elyse Bennett. Sam Hiatt didn’t get good contact on an attempt to cut the pass out, allowing Kristen Hamilton to sprint through a seam before fizzing a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The Reign onslaught continued, and the home side was sure they’d broken through the Franch wall in the 74th minute. Jordyn Huitema managed to beat Franch to a corner kick, and though the resulting header wasn’t powerful, it seemed like a sure bet to get over the line. Loera just barely managed to hack it away in a moment that Franch, speaking to reporters afterwards, chose over any of her own saves as the best of the match. The Reign argued that the ball crossed the line, but referee Alexandra Billeter — after a glance to her assistant referee — was unmoved.

Sometimes, it’s just not your day, but for the Reign, it had to be particularly painful. Much like last year’s semifinal defeat against the Washington Spirit, they created far more chances in front of a home crowd, only to come up against a goalkeeper having a wonderful day, and an opponent that could produce some sharp finishing at crucial moments.

The result gives the Current a chance to emulate their forerunners at FC Kansas City, who won two NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015 under U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski before moving to Utah only to return as the Current in 2021.

[lawrence-related id=8708,8384]