RECAP: FC Kansas City plays Sky Blue FC to a 1-1 draw

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (June 11, 2024) – FC Kansas City survived a frenzied match with Sky Blue FC to record its first road point of the season and second straight result in a 1-1 draw at Yurcak Field.

The game’s two goals came just three minutes apart with Groom scoring in the 27th minute and Sarah Killion equalizing for Sky Blue in the 30th. It was Groom’s second goal of the season, which ties her with Yael Averbuch to lead the Blues.

FC Kansas City got out to a quick start with a shot in the second minute from Heather O’Reilly, who just returned from U.S. Women’s National Team duty with Becky Sauerbrunn. Groom then jumped into the attack in the 23rd minute with her first shot that went high.

She made up for it moments later by firing a shot just over Caroline Stanley’s hands to give the Blues the lead.

Moments later, however, the Blues fouled in the box and Sky Blue FC was awarded a penalty kick. Killion buried it into the left side of the net for her second goal of the season. It is just the seventh that Barnhart has allowed in eight games. She entered the match with a league-best 29 saves.

Both teams had a host of other chances, including a Sky Blue shot that clipped the crossbar in the first half. It deflected downward toward the line and was not tallied for the home team.

With the draw, the two-time defending National Women’s Soccer League champions improved to 1-4-3. Sky Blue FC is 2-3-3.

The Blues continue their roadtrip at 7:30 p.m. next Sunday in Houston. FC Kansas City lost the previous matchup with the Dash 2-1.

They will then return home to host Seattle Reign FC in an NWSL Championship rematch at 6 p.m. on June 25.

For FC Kansas City Season Tickets or more information, please call 855-4KC-GOAL or visit fckansascity.com.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Sky Blue FC vs. FC Kansas City

Date: June 11, 2024

Venue: Yurcak Field; Piscataway, N.J.

Attendance: 2754

Weather: 82 degrees, hot

Scoring Summary:

NJ:   1 0 – 1

KC:  1 0 – 1

KC 27 Shea Groom (Erika Tymrak)

NJ 30 Sarah Killion (Penalty Kick)

Lineups:

NJ: Stanley; Stanley; O’Hara, Rampone, Skroski, Grubka; Rodriguez, Killion, Gordon (Galton-57), Conheeney; Lytle (Kerr-75), DeCesare (Kai-67)

Subs not used: Casey, Simon, Goodson, Stanton

Head Coach: Christy Holly

KC: Barnhart; Newfield (Silva-57), Sauerbrunn, Taylor, Arlitt; Scott, Averbuch, Laddish; Tymrak (McCarty-75), Groom (Kastor-87), O’Reilly

Subs not used: Parkhill, LaBonta, Bowen, Reed

Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski

Stats Summary: NJ / KC

Shots:  7 / 13

Shots on Goal: 4 / 4

Saves:  3 / 3

Corner Kicks: 5 / 7

Fouls:  10 / 14

Offside: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:

N/A

Officials:

Referee: Karen Abt

Assistant Referee 1: Adrienne McDonald

Assistant Referee 2: Ian McKay

Fourth Official: Jorge Ramirez