Kansas City Current on cusp of advancing to Summer Cup semifinals after win vs. Pachuca

The Kansas City Current took care of Pachuca on Saturday night with a 3-0 victory in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup.

Debinha scored two goals and Kristen Hamilton added one of her own. All three goals were scored in the first half, and the Current made it look relatively easy.

The Current posted 18 shots, eight on frame, holding Pachuca to just one shot in the first half.

“One of the things we talked about before the game was that we wanted to start out fast. We wanted to start out intense, and we wanted to impose ourselves on the opponent,” Current coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “We wanted to be the one that is gonna control the tempo.”

Mission accomplished.

Pachuca’s head coach, Oscar Torres, mentioned the Current’s speed, both on the ball and in moving around the pitch, as a major factor in the match. While Torres and the Pachuca team seemed outmatched, they enjoyed their experience at CPKC Stadium and felt respected by the fans.

“The atmosphere, the stadium was great,” said Pachuca forward Nayeli Diaz. “You guys have some great fans here. It was a good game. I think both teams learned a lot.”

For some players, it was the first international competition they’ve ever experienced, and it was the first truly competitive tournament game against an international club for the Current.

Hamilton said it was a new realm for many, and that’s why the Current focused heavily on what it could control.

“We go in with the mentality that we’re gonna go in and impose ourselves on them … and then really focus on us,” Hamilton said. “We only know so much about these opponents and how they’re gonna come out.”

The Current certainly came out firing. Debinha opened the scoring with a first-time shot on a loose ball in the box. Her right-footed blast curled into the top corner.

Debinha added her second in the 30th minute with a well-timed run to volley home Hamilton’s cross.

The 2024 season has been a tough one for the star attacker. After scoring nine goals in 2023, she had scored just one in all competitions entering Saturday.

“We never looked at the goals that she scored or didn’t score,” Andonovski said. “We just believe in her abilities, and we know that there will be a time where she’s gonna make a difference.”

Three minutes later, Hamilton tapped home a shot at the back post from Michelle Cooper.

Also of note: Hanna Glas made her first appearance with the Current on Saturday after signing in February 2023. She spent last season rehabbing a knee injury. Glas was credited with the assist on Debinha’s first goal.

With the win, the Current moves to the top of its group with six points and a goal differential of plus-five Only the four best of the five group winners will make the tournament’s semifinals, which will be held August 6 at CPKC Stadium.

This Thursday, a final group-stage match with Tigres looms as the deciding factor in whether or not the Current makes the semis. Based on the results of matches completed through Saturday night, the Current is in position to do so with a victory.

Thursday’s match kicks off from CPKC Stadium at 7 p.m.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry .danielkc@gmail.com .