Kristie Mewis and her Gotham FC teammates could not find the net Saturday night. (Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports)
Kristen Hamilton scored the only goal as the Kansas City Current recorded a 1-0 victory over NJ/NY Gotham FC in National Women’s Soccer League action at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on Saturday night.
Hamilton tallied in the 84th minute.
Gotham (9 points) dropped to 3-0-3 while KC (8) improved to 2-4-0.
Strong goalkeeping play highlighted the match with Gotham’s Michelle Betos turning away seven shots and her counterpart Cassie Miller making four saves.
“We just didn’t finish our chances,” Gotham head coach Scott Parkinson said. “We created enough [and didn’t capitalize]. Performance-wise, I’m proud of the team. Coming to a tough place to play and be on the front foot and do some nice stuff for the majority of the game. I’m not disappointed in the effort but I feel for the team. I think coming out of here with a point would have been fair.”
The first half was a fairly evenly matched affair with Gotham FC, stringing together 11 shots while forcing Miller to make some tricky saves. The visitors were solid defensively, highlighted by a clean slide tackle from behind by Imani Dorsey in the 11th minute, and limited Kansas City from posting many dangerous opportunities.
Gotham FC picked up on the attack beginning in the 24th minute when Midge Purce slow-played a corner from the top of the box and getting off an attempt that glanced off the fingers of Miller.
Kansas City’s only real close call came in the 36th minute when a lofted feed led to a header from Kate Del Fava at the six that went wide of the frame.
Towards the end of the half, Ifeoma Onumonu’s shot took a bounce off a Current player’s shin guard. That led Paige Monaghan into the scoring area. Miller tipped her try to force the ball off the post.
The hots were the aggressors coming out of the break, charging forward and forcing the Gotham FC backline to make plays. The defense continued to make plays and Betos stepped up for another key stop in the 64th minute, kicking her leg out to deny a streaking Elyse Bennett down the middle of the pitch.
The breakthrough came in the final 10 minutes when Izzy Rodriguez worked her way down the left side and dropped a pass back to Hamilton, who placed it to the right side of the net for what proved to be the game-winner.
Gotham FC returns to Red Bull Arena to wrap up the regular season series with Alex Morgan and the San Diego Wave on Sunday, June 19 at 4 p.m.
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