NWSL Weekend: Current 'game-changers' make it two wins in two games since coaching move

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Apr 23, 2023

The Kansas City Current won its second game in five days following a change in coaches, beating the Orlando Pride, 2-0, in a battle of teams that lost their first three games.

Interim head coach Caroline Sjoblom stepped in for Matt Potter, who was dismissed on Wednesday. Later in the day, the Current beat Houston, 2-0, in its UKG NWSL Challenge Cup opener.

Defender Hailie Mace intercepted the clearance at the edge of the penalty area and fed Debinha, who beat two Pride defenders and slid the ball past Orlando goalkeeper Carly Nelson for her second goal since arriving as a free agent from North Carolina.

Just four minutes later, Mace sent a cross into the area, where Cece Kizer tapped it in for her second goal of the season. Kizer had both goals against Houston, becoming the first player in club history to score multiple goals in one match.

Mace's two assists made her the first Current player to record multiple assists in one regular-season match in its three seasons.

"Of course, I’m really happy today about the win against Orlando,” said  Sjoblom. “We didn’t have that many practices to prepare for this game, but I think that the players followed the game plan today, 100%. So I’m really proud of our players, and of course all the game-changers that came in the game as well.”

• Portland (3-0-1) moved into first place with a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville. Washington (2-0-2) and Houston (1-0-3) also remained unbeaten after they played to a 0-0 tie.

Saturday, April 22
OL Reign 5 Chicago 2. (Goals: Balcer 15, 20, Fishlock 45+5, 76, Rapinoe 72; Wright 32, Schlegel 46. Att.:  6,186.)
Washington 0 Houston 0. (Att.: 7,073.)
Gotham FC 1 NC Courage 0. (Goal: Williams 80. Att,: 3,200.)
Portland 2 Racing Louisville 0. (Goals: Sinclair 2, Weaver 45+4. Att.: 14,972.)
Sunday, April 23
KC Current 2 Orlando 0. (Goals: Debinha 64, Kizer 68. Att.: 9,808.)
Angel City FC 0 San Diego 2. (Goals: Jakobsson 70, Doniak 75. Att.: 22,000.)