* Unless they amass 7 points from their three home games remaining, including a matchup against the high-flying Washington Spirit
* Injuries, international absences and behind-the-scenes upheaval have played a large part in the Current’s position
Maravi Express
Unless they win two and draw the third of their home matches, Temwa Chawinga’s Kansas City (KC) Current risk missing out the US Women’s National Soccer League (NWSL) playoffs.
The KC Current lost 0-2 to 2nd-placed San Diego Wave FC last Friday night and one of the games remaining, includes against high-flying Washington Spirit.
An analysis by Kansas City Star indicates that “injuries, international absences and behind-the-scenes upheaval have played a large part in the Current’s position”.
“It’s coming down to the wire for the Kansas City Current,” says the report. “The team’s playoff hopes took a turn for the worse after a 2-0 loss to the San Diego Wave on Friday night, plus other results from the rest of the league.
“Wins from Angel City and the Denver Summit moved the pack competing for the final two playoff spots much closer together.
“The Current has dropped to the eighth and final playoff spot with a record of 11-9-5 (38 points) with just a plus-3 goal differential.
“Below them, lurking in the background, are the Seattle Reign (37 points) and this weekend’s opponent, the Summit (35 points).
“That matchup with Denver on Saturday morning at CPKC Stadium is massive. A KC win would put distance between the Current and others near the playoff line.
“With a KC loss, Denver would leapfrog Kansas City on points and every tiebreaker, dropping the Current out of the playoff picture with four games left.”
Temwa with Malawian fans after the match
The report further indicates that following their loss last Friday, they put themselves in a precarious position and could fail to make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
“As much as the team’s road woes are a problem, so is the failure to get all three points at home after the World Cup break.
“The club publicly touts an incredibly long unbeaten streak in NWSL regular-season play — 29 games, dating back to 2024, to be exact — but since returning from the World Cup, the Current has won just two of its six home matches, with 10 points from a possible 18.
“With three home games remaining, including a matchup against the high-flying Washington Spirit, the Current probably needs at least seven points (two wins and a draw) from those matches alone.”
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Head coach Chris Armas is reportedly likening the situation to trying to build a house in a hurricane — “the question is if and when the storm will end”.
“What’s it going to take?” Armas said after Friday’s loss. “It’s going to take us sticking to it. This team is a good team … that’s together.
“And you can see that when a connected team is together the way we are, all is possible. It’s going to be there for us.”
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