Debinha-led KC Current turn midweek Challenge Cup match vs. Red Stars into a laugher

After a historic performance in Wednesday night’s 4-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars, Debinha exited the mach to loud applause from the KC Current faithful.

The star midfielder scored two of four second-half goals to mark the largest margin of victory in club history for the Current. She also ran her Challenge Cup goals record to 12 and became the only player to score three goals in every Challenge Cup since its inception in 2020.

“I was just saying (to her), like ‘(it was) a fantastic performance,’” said interim Current head coach Caroline Sjöblom. “’You enjoyed it today, I could tell.’”

The Debinha-fueled win held additional significance for a few former Red Stars now on the Current.

Morgan Gautrat, a free-agent signing from Chicago, made her first start with the Current in her second game back from a preseason injury. Vanessa DiBernardo scored her first Challenge Cup goal and keeper Cassie Miller, a fellow former Red Star, recorded her second clean sheet of Challenge Cup play, along with four saves.

“I think in some ways, (it was) bittersweet,” Gautrat said. “Obviously I had great teammates in Chicago for the four years that I was there and great memories, and that club will always hold a special place in my heart.

“But obviously now I’m here with Kansas City Current and with these great teammates, and we put on a great show tonight. And I think you try not to think about those things because now is the time to look forward to what’s next and what we’re going to do with this team this year. “

The Current came out aggressive and well outshot the Red Stars 11-4 in the first half, but came away with nothing to show for it.

Staying patient, their breakthrough finally came in the 54th minute as Debinha, assisted by Hailie Mace, threaded a shot into the top right corner of the goal past Red Stars and U.S. national team keeper Alyssa Naeher.

DiBernardo followed with a left of center score in the 60th and Cece Kizer notched a third with a left-footer into the bottom left corner in the 62nd, off an assist from Mimmi Larsson.

“I think we were a little bit too forced in the first half because we saw all the space and we went all vertical,” Sjöblom said. “But in halftime, I talked about ‘We need to connect more passes, we need to use the half spaces more,’ so maybe go from the outside back into the midfield and out to the outer wing. And that was something we did.”

Debinha capped the scoring in the 70th minute, assisted by DiBernardo, before checking out in the 72nd.

The Current outshot the Red Stars 20-10 with nine shots on goal to Chicago’s four before 8,226 at Children’s Mercy Park. Debinha led all players with five shots and four on goal while DiBernardo put up four shots. Mace and Chicago’s Cheyna Lee Matthews and Jenna Bike each tallied three shots.

Mace received a yellow card in the 55th minute, and given it’s her second in Challenge Cup play, she’ll be suspended for the next Challenge Cup game against the Houston Dash on July 22.

That notwithstanding, the win was galvanizing after the Current’s disappointing 2-1 loss at OL Reign last Saturday. Sjöblom said the team turned its recent frustration into the mentality that “this is us, and if you want to come and play against us in this stadium, it’s going to be really tough.” Day-by-day, her players hope to bear that out over the rest of the season, especially as only three Challenge Cup games remain.

“Every win is going to be a momentum push, but ultimately it’s week in-week out for us,” Miller said. “Hopefully that’s some momentum and hopefully that can push us to again play good, have a good performance against Washington, and I think we just go game by game and go from there.”

And, as the Current prepares to host the Washington Spirit at 6 p.m. Sunday, one former Red Star is really glad to now have Debinha on her side.

“Obviously she’s a world class player,” Gautrat said, “And she can make magic with her feet at any point in the game.”