Scoring 2 first-half goals, Kansas City Current beat Orlando Pride in NWSL road game

For the second match in a row, the Kansas City Current held a 2-0 lead.

And this time, they were able to hang onto it for a National Women’s Soccer League victory, beating the Orlando Pride 2-1 on Saturday at Exploria Stadium.

Before the match, interim Current head coach Caroline Sjöblom said, veteran forward Kristen Hamilton addressed the team. Hamilton talked about how much last week’s 3-2 loss to the Washington Spirit hurt throughout the week, and how KC would never lose like that again.

“I think that statement from her as a captain, everyone felt it in the second half,” Sjöblom said. “Everyone ran for each other. We had players with cramps, with pains, but they did that important slide tackle or that important 1v1 defensive duel that the team needed.”

The Current (4 wins, 0 draws, nine losses) scored in the 29th minute when a turnover forced the ball to Debinha about 40 yards from the goal. The Brazilian star picked up her head and saw Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse off her line and was able to chip it over everyone into an empty net.

Cece Kizer scored the Current’s second goal during first-half stoppage time. The Overland Park native displayed excellent touch in controlling a pass from Vanessa DiBernardo and finishing inside the six-yard box. And Michelle Cooper’s pass to spring DiBernardo before the assist showcased some impressive vision from the rookie.

DiBernardo assisted both Current goals.

“She used her ability to see these kinds of spaces and the movement from the forwards to make those assist passes,” Sjöblom said of DiBernardo.

With Morgan Gautrat in the Current’s lineup, DiBernardo can typically play a more advanced attacking role. And that’s where she’s been most successful throughout her career.

“It can allow me to go higher up the field, which I would say is more of my comfort zone,” DiBernardo said. “I think we’ve found success playing together, and we’re just growing as a team. I think our offense is kind of clicking a little bit more these past couple of weeks.”

Orlando got a goal back when Kristen Hamilton was ruled to have handled the ball in the box. Legendary Brazilian women’s soccer star Marta chipped the penalty down the middle to make it 2-1 in the 58th minute.

Orlando (4-1-8) created a couple of very good opportunities late in the match, but Current goalkeeper Cassie Miller made two excellent saves. And despite 11 minutes of second-half stoppage time, the Current were able to hang on for an extremely valuable three points.

“At halftime, we talked to ourselves and said, ‘Don’t let this game get away from us,’” Di Bernardo said. “So we really put in a good performance, and sometimes you have to defend for a half. And we really dug deep, and we got the win.”

The Current remain on the road next weekend, traveling to Portland to take on the Thorns Saturday at 9 p.m. Central Time.