FC KANSAS CITY EARNS FIRST WIN IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
Lauren Cheney Leads the Way With Two Assists
OVERLAND PARK, Kan (April 26, 2024) – FC Kansas City earned its first win in franchise history and remains unbeaten so far on the season after defeating the Seattle Reign FC 2-0. Over 4,000 fans braved the rain and cool temperatures to see Lauren Cheney feed Sinead Farrelly and Renae Cuellar for the only two goals scored on the night.
With a steady rain all day both teams expected the ball to be fast and tough to control on this field. Coach Vlatko Andonovski prepared his team by stressing the importance of close, short passes to work the ball up the field. Seattle seemed determined to stop that progression with aggressive hard tackles up the midfield.
In the 21st minute, Lauren Cheney was awarded a corner kick from the left side of the goal. Her bending pass across the mouth of the goal found the head of Sinead Farrelly on the back post. Farrelly’s first goal of the season gave FC Kansas City an early lead.
“It was important that we got the first goal,” said coach Andonovski. “This game was difficult in the elements and the confidence we got from (Farrely’s) goal was what allowed us to push through the rest of the game.”
Seattle tried to push back several times through out the remainder of the game. Jessica Fishlock, the dynamic midfielder from Wales, put a crossing pass right to the waiting foot of Reign forward Keelin Winters, but Nicole Barnhart showed why she is one of the world’s best goalkeepers by anticipating the pass and nullifying any chance at a shot.
Renae Cuellar continued her goal-scoring ways with another tally tonight. Cheney found her at midfield and the speedy Mexican international won the footrace against the Seattle defender and tucked her shot into the right lower corner, giving FC Kansas City a 2-0 lead. The score would hold for the remainder of the game.
These two teams face each other next week, this time in Seattle, on May 4th at 10pm CT. The Blues return home on May 18th to face the Boston Breakers at 7:35pm.