Why NWSL-leading 13th goal by KC Current’s Chawinga wasn’t enough against Spirit

After going unbeaten in six summer-tournament matches, the Kansas City Current received a major wake-up call in its return to National Women’s Soccer League competition.

The Washington Spirit scored early and often Sunday en route to a 4-1 drubbing of the Current in a midday showdown at Audi Field in the nation’s capital.

“I think the game was decided in the first half,” said Current coach Vlatko Andonovski

He lauded his team’s first-half performance but lamented second-half mistakes that gave the Spirit opportunities on which capitalized.

“They scored two great goals on two opportunities, and that’s the sign of a good team,” Andonovski said. “They don’t need five, six, seven opportunities. You give them a little opportunity and they’ll punish you.”

The Current started the match uncharacteristically impatient and turned the ball over multiple times.

Spirit midfielder Paige Metayer opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Unpressured by any Current player, she took the ball from inside her defensive half and dribbled all the way into the box.

Her left-footed shot seemed tame but made its way past KC goalkeeper A.D. Franch.

Minutes later, Ouleymata Sarr doubled the Spirit’s lead, capitalizing on a bad giveaway by the Current with numbers forward. Trinity Rodman made it 3-0 to open the second half, looping a deflected shot into the top corner in the 51st minute.

Temwa Chawinga scored the lone goal for the Current after an excellent pass from Debinha. Chawinga’s goal was her club-record 13th of the season, putting her in sole position for the Golden Boot as the NWSL’s top scorer.

Chawinga has also now scored in six straight league matches.

Leicy Santos capped the Spirit’s ruthless display with a volley past Franch in the 73rd minute.

A final KC note about Sunday’s match: Newly signed Jereko made her debut as a sub in the 65th minute. She is the first Kenyan to play in the NWSL.

The schedule will remain challenging for the Current. Seven of KC’s final 10 matches will be against clubs currently in position for playoff berths.

Andonovski characterized Sunday’s loss as a learning opportunity for a club that needed it.

“This team, in some ways, needed a little bit of adversity,” Andonovski said. “Obviously, we didn’t want to lose 4-1 to face adversity. There are different ways to face it, but if if this is the adversity that we need to come out of, it’s a great test for us.”

With seven wins, five draws, and two losses, the Current’s next match will also be on the road. KC visits the North Carolina Courage next Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Current’s next home match is set for Saturday, Sept. 7 against Utah Royals FC at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.