KC Current prepare to play for The Women’s Cup KC final at home

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Current have a chance to win the first trophy in club history on Saturday.

The Current face Spanish powerhouse Atlético de Madrid in The Women’s Cup Kansas City final at 8 p.m. at CPKC Stadium. Atlético beat Japanese side INAC Kobe Leonessa 2-1 in a penalty shootout which Atlético won 3-0 with three straight saves from goalkeeper Lola Gallardo.

The Current defeated South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 with goals from Alexa Spaanstra, Vanessa DiBernardo, and Michelle Cooper.

The Current also secured the match with dynamic attackers Temwa Chawinga and Debinha coming off of the bench in the last 20 minutes of the match.

This is the Current’s first chance at a trophy since the 2022 NWSL Championship, the club’s first intercontinental tournament championship, and the first and a chance to win it at home.

Defender Alana Cook recently joined the Current from Seattle Reign FC and has won a TWC trophy with the club before.

“Getting to play here as the opponent, and now getting to actually get cheered on by this home crowd, I think this is a stadium, and a fan group that deserves to have championships here, and I’m excited that this is the first one I get to play in here, and I’m excited that the fans get to be a part of it as well,” Cook said on Friday.

“I think the fans have done such an incredible job showing up and supporting us, and the organization here has done an incredible job putting this stadium together, putting this atmosphere together, and making it such an incredible environment for everyone involved. So I am personally extremely excited.”

“For us, it’s another chance to get better and take a step to where we want to be, both at the end of this year and years coming forward. It should be a really awesome occasion.”

CPKC Stadium is already hosting the 2024 NWSL Championship whether the Current are in the match or not.

After the Sundowns match, Andonovski shooed away any thoughts about championships with his consistent mantra of “one game at a time.”

“This game was the most important game this year. Next one as it comes, is gonna be the most important one. And right after that, the game in D.C. is gonna be the most important one,” he said.

Now that the championship is the next game ahead, he relayed Cook’s sentiments about wanting to win a trophy for the home crowd.

“It’s great to be in this final game. It is a first championship, and all I wish is that we have these opportunities more often,” he said.

“Whether is it league or this tournament again, next year or so on, just because I know how much, how hard this team works. I know how hard these players work to get to this point. So I’m glad that they have an opportunity to enjoy this in front of their own crowd, to enjoy the moment at their stadium in this city.”

While the Sundowns traveled from South Africa, they played a similar defensive style that NWSL teams have resorted to against the Current’s fast-paced offensive style. Atlético will likely try to do the same although Mamelodi and Kansas City are in the middle of their respective seasons.

Atlético and INAC Kobe are in preparation for their seasons.

Atlético head coach Víctor Martín and his side are used to a more technical style of attacking football that is common in Europe and has had to adjust when playing NWSL teams.

“The transition is very quick. The back and forth is very speedy,” translator Natalie Amaato said for Martín.

“In Spain, it’s a bit different at moments. We don’t attack, maybe there’s a little bit more of waiting for the attack. But I do think that even what we’re seeing here in the NWSL, there is an evolution in the style. So I’m also seeing that in the NWSL, they are incorporating elements of our play. So I think it’s going to be interesting to see how that transitions in the game.”

Players to watch

Cooper and Debinha have performed well for the Current over the Olympic break.

Cooper has two goals and two assists between the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and The Women’s Cup.

Debinha scored four goals in the Summer Cup to help the Current reach the final of that tournament that will be played on Oct. 25.

On top of her penalty shootout performance, Gallardo is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Liga F and has 37 caps with the Spanish national team. She allowed 21 goals in 27 Liga F matches last season with nine clean sheets.

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