FC Kansas City Finds Victory in Final Road Trip of the Season
Seattle, WASHINGTON (September 24, 2024) – FC Kansas City earned three points in their final road trip of the 2024 season, defeating the Seattle Reign 1-0 on Sunday evening at Memorial Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Shea Groom scored the game’s only goal in the 23rd minute off an assist from Sydney Leroux.
Although the team had been eliminated from playoff contention in its last match, FC Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski knew his team would continue to play at a high level to finish their season.
Much like the two NWSL Championship games between these two teams, Andonovski started his team in a defensive mindset. Seattle controlled as much as 74% of the possession in the first 20 minutes, however, they only had four shots, with none of them being on target.
The Blues jumped on their first chance of the night. In the 23rd minute, following a Reign attack, the Blues were able to clear the ball from danger where Leroux was able to jump on it. The veteran forward laid off a perfect pass through the Seattle defense just as Groom ran parallel to their back line. She beat the defense to the pass and only needed one touch to place the ball to the back corner of the net.
The Groom goal gave the Blues a 1-0 lead they would take into the halftime break.
In the second half, The Blues refused to sit in a defensive shell while Seattle tried to preserve their season. They actually outshot the Reign 7-6 in the period. Groom and Leroux would continue to work together to put pressure on the Seattle defense while captain Becky Sauerbrunn was able to clean up any offensive chances the Reign tried to muster.
Brittany Kolmel (née Taylor) made her first appearance since getting married two weeks ago. She entered the match in the 65th minute. Rookie Sydney Miramontez, who had started in Kolmel’s traditional outside back position, moved to center back and gave veteran Yael Averbuch a much deserved rest.
The fresh legs of Kolmel certainly helped to withstand the final Seattle push, and in the end, the Blues were able to hold on to their 1-0 victory.
FC Kansas City (8-9-6, 30pts) will now return home for the final game of the 2024 season. The team will host the Houston Dash at 5:00 p.m. CT on October 1st at Swope Soccer Village. The team, in cooperation with the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund, will be helping to raise funds for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma at the match. A special silent auction will be held, offering team signed merchandise to potential fans.
For tickets or information about the final match click here.
NWSL Match Report
Match: Seattle Reign vs FC Kansas City
Date: September 24, 2024
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Seattle, WA
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. PT, 8:00 p.m. CT
Weather: 68, Partly Cloudy
Discipline:
69’ SEA Rapinoe (Yellow)
Scoring:
23’ FCKC Groom (Leroux)
Scoring Summary
Goals 1 2 F
Seattle 0 0 0
Kansas City 1 0 1
Lineups:
Seattle Reign: Williams, Corsie, Pickett, McNabb, Stott (Reed 78’), Nairn (Johnson 61’), Utsugi, Fishlock, Rapinoe, Mathias (Yanez 75’), Kawasumi
Substitutes Not Used: Dallstream, Bauer, Crummer, Kopmeyer
FC Kansas City: Barnhart, Moros, Averbuch (Kolmel 65’), Sauerbrunn©, Miramontez, Gibbons, Scott, LaBonta, Kelly (Newfield 81’), Groom, Leroux
Substitutes Not Used: Tymrak, Flynn, Parkhill, Ratcliffe, Bowen
Additional Notes:
Prior to the match, four FC Kansas City players (Becky Sauerbrunn, Yael Averbuch, Sydney Leroux and Desiree Scott) remained in the locker room during the playing of the National Anthem. FC Kansas City released the following statement in support of the players:
‘We are extremely proud of our players for their commitment to their craft and their community. We recognize and support their efforts to use their unique position to raise awareness of social issues in a positive manner.’