The Kansas City Current are officially punching their ticket to the NWSL Final, and they did it by pulling off a stunning 2-1 upset on the road against No. 1-seeded and reigning champions, Gotham FC. This wasn’t just any win, it was sweet revenge, flipping the script on last year when Gotham bounced the Current in the quarterfinals with their own 2-1 victory.
Gotham’s Offensive Woes and a Familiar Foe
Kansas City jumped out early, grabbing the lead in the 20th minute thanks to a beautiful direct free kick from Croix Bethune. The 25-year-old midfielder curled that ball around the Gotham wall like a dream, burying it into the lower left corner. Gotham, meanwhile, was struggling, and I mean *really* struggling, to find the net. For the second week in a row, they failed to hit a single shot on target. Let that sink in: zero shots on goal, yet somehow, they still managed to score.
Their equalizer came in the 69th minute, after Midge Purce’s cross forced an own goal. Sound familiar? It should! This is the second consecutive game where Gotham’s only points came off an own goal. Just last week, it was the exact same story in their 1-0 quarterfinal win over our very own Seattle Reign. You have to wonder what’s going on there when your offense can’t even put one on frame, but somehow the opponent does the work for you.
The Crushing Blow: Hopkins Delivers in the Clutch
As time ticked down, the tension was through the roof. Current captain Lo’eau Labonta nearly put her team ahead, unleashing a strike that unfortunately bounced off the right post. Gotham keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, one of the finalists for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, was doing her absolute best to keep her team in it, pulling off a number of absolutely miraculous saves. But even a world-class keeper couldn’t stop destiny.
In the 89th minute, with the clock winding down, Haley Hopkins stepped up. She unleashed a strike off a set piece that rattled off the crossbar, dropped down, and then spun right into the net! That’s it. Ball game. That goal sent Kansas City straight to the NWSL Championship, ending Gotham’s hopes of a back-to-back title run right there on their home turf. What a finish!
The Kansas City Current are now set to face the Spirit in the NWSL Final. This Current team just proved they can take down the best, so get ready for what promises to be an epic championship showdown.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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