Beatriz Zaneratto’s goal in the 68th minute, along with a second-half penalty save by Lorena, enabled the Kansas City Current to win their sixth straight match on Friday, with the NWSL frontrunners knocking off visiting Angel City FC 1-0.
The heroics by the Brazilian nationals sent the Current (11-2-0, 33 points) into the league’s summer break with a commanding lead in the standings. With the win, the Current moved eight points ahead of the Orlando Pride, who lost Friday to Racing Louisville.
Zaneratto scored her fifth goal of the season by following up teammate Temwa Chawinga, whose shot on a breakaway was saved by Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson. The Current forward gathered the ball outside of the box, took a step inside it and beat Anderson high and to the right.
Prior to that, Lorena kept Angel City (4-3-6, 15 points) off the scoreboard in the 56th minute, as the Kansas City keeper lunged to her right to deny Alyssa Thompson’s penalty kick. The Angel City forward earned the opportunity after Elizabeth Ball took her down.
Angel City held the ball for most of the contest and kept the highest-scoring team in the league, with 28 goals entering the match, scoreless for the first 45 minutes.
Still, Kansas City had the only scoring chances early against Angel City’s five-back lineup. Two of the Current’s five first-half shots tested Anderson. Kayla Sharples’ header was saved in the 25th minute, and the Angel City keeper denied Izzy Rodriguez 13 minutes later.
Angel City mounted some pressure in stoppage time, but the guests were unable to get anything on target. Lorena finished with two saves, while Anderson made six.
After this weekend’s games conclude, the NWSL will be idle until Aug. 1. Kansas City will visit Louisville and Angel City will visit the Seattle Reign on that day.
–Field Level Media
