FC KANSAS CITY READY FOR REMATCH OF OPENING GAME

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Updated: June 6, 2024
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Three Game Road Trip Begins with Tonight’s Match

PORTLAND, Oregon (June 6, 2024) – FC Kansas City will head northwest to take on Portland Thorns FC tonight at 9:30p.m. CT. This will be the first stop in a three game road trip for the ‘Blues’ over the next eight days.  Both teams come into this game recovering from their second defeat of the season.  Kansas City lost to Sky Blue FC on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute last week, while Portland lost 2-0 to the visiting Chicago Red Stars over the past weekend.

VIEW GAME NOTES HERE

The last time FC Kansas City played together as a club was May 25th against Sky Blue FC. An early foul that resulted in the ejection of defender Lauren Sesselmann gave Sky Blue a penalty kick and the only goal of the match.  Despite being down a player for 67 minutes, the ‘Blues’ outshot the New Jersey club 13-10 with 7 shots on goal. Mexican allocated forward, Renae Cuellar, tried to make up for the goal but Sky Blue’s goalkeeper and NWSL Player of the Month for May, Brittany Cameron, saved them all.

Since that match, FC Kansas City was the most represented club in the friendly match between the United States and Canada on Sunday, June 2. Lauren Cheney, Nicole Barnhart, Kristie Mewis, and Becky Sauerbrunn suited up for the U.S while Desiree Scott and Lauren Sesselmann wore the Canadian red for the 3-0 U.S. victory. Barnhart earned a shutout and Cheney took a majority of the corner kicks for the U.S. and Scott and Sesselmann kept the Americans scoreless for the majority of the match.

Portland took on the Chicago Red Stars at home and suffered a 2-0 loss. The Thorns were without their top scorers Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair, Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc and defender Rachel Buehler who also represented their countries in the international friendly. Portland still managed 4 shots on goal while keeping Chicago at 2. Cris Lewis, goalkeeper for Portland allowed goals off a corner kick and a cross from the top of the penalty box.

The ten players who represented their countries will now return for this match where Morgan and Sinclair will be reunited for Portland; the two have 8 goals combined.  Kansas City shut down the pair in the inaugural match, but will have a challenge this week with Lauren Sesselmann serving her suspension for the Red Card she was given in the last match. Cheney, Mewis and Sinead Farrelly will look to control the midfield, looking for Cuellar or defenders Leigh Ann Robinson and Merritt Mathias streaking up the sideline.

Tonight’s game will kick off at 9:30p.m. CT and fans are invited to watch at the Official Watch Party location, Futbol Club Eatery and Tap located at 12030 Blue Valley Parkway in Overland Park.

One Comment

  1. Jessica Bridges

    June 6, 2024 at 10:32 am

    This is a really good preview of the match. I think it will be a battle. Should be a great game. I’m still ticked off about that red card, though. ;-)