Chawinga available as KC seeks NWSL final berth

Kansas City Current forward and 2024 NWSL Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga will be available for Sunday’s high-profile semifinal against the Orlando Pride, but Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski said he is unsure how much she will play.

“She was able to get through the whole training today,” Andonovski told reporters Friday. “Obviously, all the measurements are now to see how everything goes. So, yes, she will be available. It’s only a question of, ‘How long?'”

Chawinga missed Kansas City’s regular-season finale on Nov. 3 with a knee injury and was questionable leading up to the team’s Nov. 10 quarterfinal against the North Carolina Courage. She started and played the full 90 minutes while scoring the lone goal of the match to help Kansas City advance to the semifinals.

After the match, Andonovski said opponents have been “targeting” Chawinga. The forward, who broke the NWSL’s single-season record by scoring 20 goals this year, was subject to a late foul and taunting from Courage forward Bianca St-Georges which led Kansas City defender Ellie Wheeler to shove St-Georges in the back.

Next up for No. 4 seed Kansas City is a trip to No. 1 seed Orlando on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC). On the line is a berth in the final, which is being hosted at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on Nov. 23.

Orlando has not lost at home all season and thrashed the Chicago Red Stars, 4-1 last week in the quarterfinals.

The Pride defeated Kansas City 2-1 in July in a battle of then-unbeaten teams. Orlando won the match despite playing the whole second half down a player following Carrie Lawrence’s ejection before halftime, and captain Marta celebrated vehemently after the final whistle.

Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper then posted to her Instagram that night, “We will remember the way they acted after the cameras were off.”

The two teams met again in Orlando in September and played to a scoreless draw.

Orlando defender Kylie Strom said on Friday that there is a budding rivalry between the teams.

“Every time we’re ready to play them, it does feel like there’s a different sense, a different vibe in the locker room, and extra motivation and extra focus for whatever reason,” Strom said. “I think it’s just credit to both teams, credit to them. They’re such a quality opponent that we have to be locked in. So, it’s gonna be fun. I think both times we played them, there’s been a bit of drama, so I’m sure this game will be nothing less than that.”

Pride forward Barbra Banda finished second in the league in scoring with 13 goals in the regular season. Banda and Chawinga were locked into a tight race for the Golden Boot until Chawinga went on a run of scoring in seven of eight games following the Olympic break, while Banda scored just once. Banda returned to her scoring ways last week, however, tallying a brace against Chicago.

Both teams ooze talent beyond their primary scoring threats. Orlando is the No. 1 seed and Shield winner after going unbeaten through the first 23 games of the year and setting a new league points record (60) for a season. Kansas City broke the single-season record for goals (57) and has not lost a game since Sept. 1.

“One of the most important things for us is that we have to defend well as a unit,” Andonovski said. “They’re a very good team, they’re very organized. If we give them little space, they’re going to exploit them.”

Kansas City will be playing for the right to play a final on home soil later this month, with the NWSL predetermining its championship venue months in advance. Orlando, however, hopes to leverage its home form.

“It’s everything,” Strom said. “Inter&Co Stadium has become a fortress for us. The fans have really shown out this year and it’s been so fun to play in. It’s such a huge advantage.”

The Washington Spirit and defending league champion NJ/NY Gotham FC face off in the other semifinal on Saturday, a matchup of the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively. All four top seeds advanced from the first true quarterfinal round of playoffs in NWSL history.

Spirit head coach Jonatan Giraldez said his team needs to play “a perfect game” to win, while counterpart Juan Carlos Amoros said there is no additional pressure as defending champions.

“I think the pressure comes within ourselves,” the Gotham FC coach said. “I think it’s how much we want to win. It hasn’t changed. Every time we go on a football pitch, we want to show that — to show that we’re the best team.”