Kansas City NWSL Earns Points in Third Straight at Home; Midfielder Desiree Scott Plays in 100th Career NWSL Match

KANSAS CITY (Sept. 5, 2021) - Kansas City NWSL returned to Legends Field looking for their third-straight positive result at home against the North Carolina Courage. Midfielder Desiree Scott started the match and became just the second Canadian to reach the 100th appearance milestone in the NWSL. Scott played the full 90 minutes for Kansas City and helped defend a clean sheet, as the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Kansas City NWSL Earns Points in Third Straight at Home; Midfielder Desiree Scott Plays in 100th Career NWSL Match

When asked after the game, Scott said this moment in her career felt incredible to be a part of. “It’s always an honor to make those milestone moments. I think it's been a long career, and I think that shows my love for the game. The support that I have with my teammates and my staff who have that confidence in me to get me out on that pitch. I am just happy to still be here with the crew playing the game I love.”

Head Coach Huw Williams was happy with his team's performance after the game and thought his squad had the edge over North Carolina. “Credit to AD (goalkeeper Adrianna Franch). She came up big with a one-on-one save in the first half. That was managed by Desi Scott, who had one of the better games for us today, as she was unbelievable picking up every single loose ball there was to be picked up. I thought that the midfield, in general, did very well today.”

Even though Kansas City dominated the game with 14 shots (six on goal) and owned possession with a 53 percent advantage over the Courage, they were unable to find the back of the net. Coming off her 300 save milestone in Chicago, Franch made five saves while picking up the first clean sheet of her Kansas City career.

Franch started off the first half with a phenomenal diving tip-save to redirect a cross in from North Carolina’s Jessica McDonald in the second minute of play. Three minutes later, North Carolina saw another dangerous attack forming, but Kansas City defender Elizabeth Ball made a thunderous slide-tackle to block the pace from the service.

Despite defending the first nine minutes, Kansas City quickly turned things around in the 10th minute of play when Victoria Pickett slipped Mariana Larroquette in on top of the box where she rocketed a shot to the left corner, but North Carolina’s Casey Murphy was able to make a sprawling dive for the save. Larroquette had another near chance in the box in the 12th minute, but it was saved easily by Murphy.

Franch showed why she is one of the top goalkeepers in the league in the 18th minute when McDonald got free on a breakaway in the box and Franch came out to challenge her and made a sliding arm-save to deflect the ball out of the danger zone.

Kansas City had another near chance in the 36th minute from a corner kick by Pickett which found a one-time shot by Kristen Hamilton, but Murphy was able to come away with it. Again, in the 41st minute, a near score came when Larroquette slipped Jéssica Silva in on a breakaway, but Silva hit the post and Murphy was able to deflect it out of play.

The second half started the same way as the first ended with Kansas City creating another near chance in the 52nd minute from a corner where Larroquette was able to rise and get a head on it, but it fell just wide of the net. Another great chance came in the 65th minute when Hailie Mace found herself wide open at the top of the box, but her shot sailed just over the top bar. Franch again came up huge with a great save from a Lynn Williams shot drilled at her in the 70th minute that did not faze her.

Although Kansas City led in many statistical categories, neither team was able to find the back of the net, sending both teams home with a point in the standings.

Kansas City will now take a three week break before they take to the road on Sunday, Sept.  26th at 4 p.m. CT to take on the Washington Spirit. The game will stream locally on KSMO-TV and nationally on Paramount+.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Kansas City NWSL vs North Carolina Courage

Date: September 5, 2021

Venue: Legends Field, Kansas City, Kansas

Kickoff: 6:08 p.m. CT, 7:08 p.m. ET

Weather: 80 degrees, sunny

Attendance: 4,583

Discipline

20’ KC - Mace (Yellow)

26’ NC - Roccaro (Yellow)

Scoring

none

Scoring Summary

Lineups:

Kansas City: Franch, Mace, Corsie©, Ball, Pickett, K., Scott, Edmonds (75’ LaBonta), Pickett, V., Silva (56’ Logarzo), Larroquette (84’ Jenkins), Hamilton

Substitutes Not Used: Rowland, Del Fava, Weber, Vincent, McCain, Bowen

North Carolina: Murphy, C., Pickett, Kurtz, Mathias, Speck, Roccaro, Solaun, Debinha (75’ Ratcliffe), Williams, L., McDonald© (84’ Agnew), Rodriguez (59’ Williams, R.)

Substitutes Not Used: Murphy, S., Baisden, Agnew, Debree, Fletcher, James, O’Sullivan