KC Current advance to Challenge Cup semifinals with win over Racing Louisville FC

The Kansas City Current are moving on to the Challenge Cup semifinals after a 3-0 win over Racing Louisville FC on Saturday.

“We were sick of losing to them,” Current forward Kristen Hamilton emphatically stated, both on and off the field Saturday night.

The Current had dropped three straight matches to Racing Louisville this season before beating them 3-0 to clinch the top spot in the Central Division of the UKG Challenge Cup .

KC scored early to set the tone of the match when Cece Kizer played a ball out to Hamilton. The Current captain one-timed a shot through the crowded Louisville defense and past a diving keeper in the third minute.

Early leads can be tough to defend in soccer, and with a spot in the Challenge Cup playoffs on the line, Racing Louisville did not surrender easily. Louisville created a few chances that were either blocked by Kansas City’s defense or smothered by veteran goalkeeper AD Franch throughout the first half.

It was a back-and-forth match with Kansas City winning the possession battle, but Louisville’s strong physical play earned them three yellow cards in the first half. The visitors were severely punished early in the second half when Racing midfielder Taylor Aylmer received a second yellow card. The mandatory red card and ejection from the match gave the Current a player advantage after the 48th minute of play.

While Louisville still tried to make a game of it, Kansas City dominated from that point forward.

The Current had several more chances but broke through again in the 81st minute. Halftime substitute Hailie Mace dribbled to the end line, picked out Hamilton and sliced a pass through traffic to set up an easy shot into the back of the net.

Hamilton’s second of the evening gave her five in this season’s Challenge Cup and tied her for the most in Challenge Cup history with teammate Debinha. Earlier this year, Hamilton recorded the first hat trick in Current history.

The Current kept the pressure on Louisville and were not finished scoring. Mace was the recipient of a pass from Kansas City native Rylan Childers. Mace’s dribbling put the tired Louisville defenders on their back foot, leaving them planted as the Current forward cut across the box and lasered a shot into the top corner.

Mace’s goal in the first minute of stoppage time made it 3-0 and a clear victory for Kansas City. The Current passed the ball around to ensure a clean sheet.

Interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom was proud of her team’s performance. Sjöblom has been working with the Current to improve their passing and defense, and it paid off with four clean sheets in six Challenge Cup matches.

With the victory, the Current clinched first place in the Central Division for the second straight year. The three division winners and the best second-place team will advance to the semifinals on Wednesday, September 6. The final seeding and times will be determined when the other two divisions finish their group play.

The Current (13 points) went 4-1-1 in Challenge Cup play, while Racing Louisville (12 points) had 4 wins, 2 losses.

The Current return to NWSL league play on the 18th, when they host the OL Reign. The Current will have Brazilian star Debinha back from the World Cup for that match.