Kansas City eliminates Angel City with extra-time penalty kick in NWSL quarterfinals
Four minutes into extra time in Kansas City, Missouri, a corner kick from defender Izzy Rodriguez changed the trajectory of the National Women’s Soccer League postseason. Before the ball crossed the crossbar on Saturday, Current defender Kayla Sharples went to the ground near the goal line following contact with Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson and midfielder Ary Borges, setting off a sequence that ended Angel City’s season.
The LA Times reported that Michelle Cooper converted the resulting penalty kick, lifting the fourth-seeded Kansas City Current to a 1-0 victory over fifth-seeded Angel City in the NWSL quarterfinals. With the win, Kansas City extended a home run that made them the only team to finish the regular season unbeaten at their own stadium.
Before the deciding foul, Anderson kept Angel City alive with five saves through regulation. The physical match saw the teams combine for 25 fouls. Angel City picked up three yellow cards in regulation, starting in the 13th minute when Sveindís Jónsdóttir slid into Gabrielle Robinson from behind as the defender shielded the ball near her end line. Borges collected the second yellow in the 58th minute after her cleat caught Vanessa DiBernardo’s during an aerial challenge. In second-half stoppage time, Maiara Niehues clipped Cooper’s heel, knocking off her cleat. Temwa Chawinga received Kansas City’s lone yellow card in the 114th minute.
Seminifinal matchups ahead
The Current advance to face the winner of Sunday’s quarterfinal match between top-seeded Gotham FC and eighth-seeded Seattle Reign FC. That semifinal contest is scheduled for next weekend.
