FC KANSAS CITY STARTS ROAD SERIES WITH BIG SHUTOUT
PISCATAWAY, NJ (July 6, 2024) – FC Kansas City (10-4-3 33 pts) won a big road game tonight against Sky Blue FC (3-7-7 16 pts). The Blues shut out the New Jersey club 5-0 on Yurcak Field in front of 1,349 fans. Second place Kansas City had four goal scorers throughout the night: Erika Tymrak, Sarah Hagen, Lauren Holiday and Amy Rodriguez. Hagen started her first match with FC Kansas City and tallied a brace.
The match started out with a bang when Tymrak put the Blues on the board in the second minute. Leigh Ann Robinson received the ball out wide, after beating her defender she sent it in to the box. After some bouncing around, Tymrak got a foot on the ball and knocked it in.
FC Kansas City controlled the ball all over the field and just minutes later scored again. Holiday stepped up to take a corner and it bounced off of goalkeeper Brittany Cameron for another Kansas City corner. The second kick curved perfectly to sail over the goal line and hit the side net. Holiday’s seventh goal of the season put the Blues up 2-0 in the opening ten minutes.
The third goal of the first half came from Hagen in the 20th minute. Tymrak sent a long ball up to the newest FC Kansas City member. Hagen brought the ball down to her feet and sent it past Cameron who was playing up off of the goal line. The goal was Hagen’s first in her National Women’s Soccer League career.
Hagen scored again in the 42nd minute of the match on a counter attack. Holiday took a shot that just bounced off the post. Cameron dove for Holiday’s shot leaving the net open for Hagen to head the rebound in. FC Kansas City went to the locker rooms up 4-0.
The Blues’ best half of the season could be contributed to a formation change for this match. Hagen started up at the front with Rodriguez, distributing attacking pressure between the two. There was also a large cheering section for the Blues at the game tonight. Defender Nikki Phillips, goalkeepers Nicole Barnhart and Sara Keane all had around 100 family members in attendance.
Sky Blue FC came out from the short break ready to defend and fight back. The New Jersey club found 10 shots with 4 on target in the second half. The first 45 minutes were clearly controlled by FC Kansas City, but the last 45 saw an aggressive Sky Blue FC.
The Blues were still hungry for more goals throughout the second half. Close shots came from all over the Kansas City roster including the goal scorers. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski brought in three substitutes to build up the defense. June’s Player of the Month, Nicole Barnhart did her new title proud with beautiful saves, especially in the second half.
The 4-0 score stuck late in to the second half and looked to remain there until the final minute of the match. Liz Bogus received a pass on the outside and found Rodriguez in the middle at the top of the box. Bogus sent it over and Rodriguez took a shot. The ball went past Cameron’s hands and to the back of the net. FC Kansas City made it 5-0 as the match closed out
The beautiful win creates more distance in the NWSL standings. The Blues comfortably sit in second place with playoffs are just around the corner. FC Kansas City’s next match will still be on the road against the Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park next Sunday, July 13th. For tickets to remaining FC Kansas City home matches, call 855.4KC.GOAL
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