San Diego Wave 0 : 2 Kansas City Current

Debinha scored her 50th goal in Kansas City colors as she opened the scoring to help secure a vital three points for KC Current against San Diego Wave.

The Brazilian’s first half volley keeps the pressure on league leaders Orlando Pride, who continue to lead the NWSL by goal difference only.

Jonas Eidevall made three changes from the side who were beaten in Florida before the international break.

Stand-out forward Gia Corley was dropped to the bench in place of Favour Emmanuel, who made her Wave debut, whilst Trinity Armstrong and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu were handed their first Snapdragon starts of this NWSL campaign.

A knock for Vanessa DiBernardo resulted in Nichelle Prince starting for the Current.

Favour Emmanuel (24) stretches for the ball at Snapdragon Stadium on Sat. April 12, 2025.
Photo: Nate Tubbs/Prost International

It took just seven minutes for Temwa Chawinga to challenge Wave shot stopper and captain Kailen Sheridan. The Malawian forward, who had scored in every game prior this season, was quickest onto Michele Cooper’s through ball, breaking free from the Wave backline but unable to slot through the legs of a strong Sheridan.

Cooper would later injure her ankle in a challenge withotu contact and make way for Bia Zaneratto.

Current’s pressure reommenced moments later as midfielder Claire Hutton cut back on her left foot, bypassed debutante Emmanuel, and shot straight into the arms of a poised Sheridan.

The warning signs continued to persist for the Wave, however, and the visitors almost had an opener as Izzy Rodriguez flew down the left channel and looped in a cross for Debinha to head behind at the far post.

These two sides last met in October, and as though history were repeating itself, Debhina confidently carved her way onto the score sheet. Breaking the deadlock on the quarter of the hour mark, the forward netted in style as she collected the ball from 18 yards and slotted past Sheridan into the bottom left corner.

If the start of this season has taught anything about the Current, it’s that they waste no time in finding a second goal.

Such swift decision making, however, seemed to be lacking from the officials who waited the best part of four minutes to award Vlado Andonovski’s side a 24th minute penalty.

After a thorough review of the replay screen, the referee pointed to the spot following Claire Hutton’s shot and Kristen McNabb’s subsequent handball. Rancho Cucamonga native Lo’eau LaBonta beat a stretching Sheridan and fired high into the top left corner to hand the Current a comfortable lead.

The ball flies past Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan at Snapdragon Stadium on Sat. April 12, 2025. The penalty goal came off KC Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta’s foot.
Photo: Nate Tubbs/Prost International

The Wave made hard work of the remainder of the opening 45 minutes and struggled to contain Chawinga who persisted in causing problems down the left flank. For a moment, Current’s leading goal scorer thought she had her first assist of the evening as she linked up with LaBonta, who could only blast over as she leant back from a central position. A similar move rounded off the half, as Ellie Wheeler struck into the stands behind.

Current could have been made to pay ten minutes into the second half, with Wave’s Kenza Dali twisting and turning to find Maria Sanchez, who could only get a toe to an inviting cross. A new lease of life seemed to emerge from the Frenchwoman, with Dali creating headaches for the Current in their final third.

Hoping to pull one back, Dali’s pressure on the away defense forced an error. Delphine Cascarino came close to capitalizing as she blazed over from 20 yards.

Wave were in the ascendancy heading into the last quarter; substitute Adriana Leon was only a strong Lorena hand away from a Wave goal. The Canadian latched onto Savannah McCaskill’s 71st minute pass before finding the target, but only winning a corner.

Adriana Leon (9) tries to keep the ball in play near the Current goal at Snapdragon Stadium on Sat. April 12, 2025.
Photo: Nate Tubbs/Prost International.

Eidevall’s substitutes couldn’t have created much more as proceedings drew to a close.

Perle Morroni’s link up play with Kimmi Ascanio would have pleased the former Arsenal boss as his 17-year-old striker forced Lorena into a smart save. A last minute move by Kennedy Wesley and Emmanuel summarized the Wave’s performance. Superb in their build up, but lacking of any finished product.

The kitchen sink, whilst mightily thrown by the Wave’s attacking line towards the end, ultimately wasn’t enough to overturn the Current’s lead or their winless record against their Kansas City counterparts at Snapdragon. A 2-0 victory for the Current reduces the goal difference at the top of the table, whilst the Wave slip to eighth in NWSL.