Match Recap: OL Reign Falls 1-0 to KC Current
OL Reign (7-3-6, 24 points, 4th place) fell 1-0 to the Kansas City Current (6-10-0, 10th place) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The Reign are on the road once again next weekend against Angel City FC, where they’ll look to bounce back from this loss.
OL Reign started the match on the front foot, earning an early corner kick. Though nothing came from the kick, it was a solid start to the club’s first regular season match in well over a month. Just minutes later, forward Elyse Bennett registered the first shot of match from just outside the 18-yard box. The powerful shot forced AD Franch to make a save in goal for Kansas City in just the seventh minute.
As the game progressed, the Reign fell back into a solid defensive shape, challenging the Current to make a move. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made an important save in the 12th minute and OL Reign went back to defending.
With the Reign letting KC possess the ball, the teams were deadlocked in a scoreless draw through the entirety of the first half.
After halftime, the Reign made one sub, bringing forward Jordyn Huitema on for forward Bethany Balcer. Forward Tziarra King, defender Lu Barnes and Bennett all had shots before the 60th minute, but none were enough to make it past Franch in the net.
In the 61st minute, Kansas City found the lone goal of the match off a throw in when defender Izzy Rodriguez served a ball into the head of forward Cece Kizer.
After the goal, the Reign immediately mounted an attack of their own on the other end of the field, fighting for an equalizer. Chaos ensued in the 69th minute when Huitema was shoved down in the box and the play went to video review. After review, OL Reign was awarded a penalty kick. Huitema stepped up to take the penalty kick, but Franch dove to save it.
The Reign made a series of subs as the end of the match was approaching, including bringing midfielder Angelina on for forward Veronica Latsko. Angelina, who was out through the beginning of the season with an ACL injury, made her regular debut for the Reign.
After 90 minutes and ten minutes of stoppage time, it wasn’t OL Reign’s night as the team fell 1-0 on the road to the Current.
UP NEXT: OL Reign plays Angel City FC, once again on the road, on Sunday, August 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
MATCH SUMMARY
2023 NWSL Regular Season
OL Reign 0 – 1 Kansas City Current
Date/Time: Friday, August 18, 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas
Weather: 79, Clear
Scoring Summary
RGN: None
KC: Kizer – 61’
Discipline
RGN: McClernon (Caution – 49’), Quinn (Caution – 73’)
KC: Franch (Caution – 73’), La Bonta (Caution – 90+11’)
Lineups
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D McClernon (Brown 82’), D Hiatt, D Holmes, D Barnes ©, M Van der Jagt, M Quinn (Stanton 89’), F Balcer (Huitema 46’), F Latsko (Angelina 89’) F Bennett (Athens 82’), F King (Malonson 82’)
Unused substitutes: GK Dickey, GK Ivory, M Canales
Total Shots: 8 (King – 3)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Bennett – 2)
Fouls: 5 (Bennett – 2)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)
KC: GK Franch, D Ball, D Robinson, D Del Fava, D Rodriguez, M Loera, M Labonta, M Debinha, M Mace (Larsson 76’), F Cooper (Curran 90+8), F Hamilton © (Kizer 55’)
Unused substitutes: GK Miller, D Merrick, D Winebrenner, D Soto, M Childers, F Spaanstra
Total Shots: 13 (Del Fava, Loera – 3)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Four tied with – 1)
Fouls: 6 (Cooper – 2)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 4 (Franch – 2)
Player of the Match: Shae Holmes
Referee: Karen Callado
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Rodman
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Milhoan
4th Official: Drew Klemp
VAR: Luis Guardia
AVAR: Kaili Terry