RECAP: FC KANSAS CITY FALLS TO SKY BLUE FC IN SEASON OPENER

Denmark international Nadia Nadim scored the only goal of the match

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Denmark international Nadia Nadim’s lone goal in the first half gave the visiting Sky Blue FC a 1-0 victory over defending National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champions FC Kansas City in front of 8,489 fans on Sunday night at Sporting Park.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s team came out to the field with an offensive mindset. However, Kansas City’s efforts to find the back of the net were not enough to defeat goalkeeper Brittany Cameron who recorded a total of five saves.

Sky Blue FC’s tally came in the 29^th minute when Nadim received a ball from Meg Morris on the right side of the box and shot a rocket that hit the roof of the net leaving goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart with no chances.

However, the Blues continued to put pressure on the visiting team’s end of the field taking a 9-4 shot advantage into the locker rooms to end the half 1-0.

Kansas City’s closest opportunity to find the equalizer came in the 60^th minute when midfielder Erika Tymrak attempted a shot from outside the box, which barely went over the crossbar.

In the 65^th minute, rookie Shea Groom and Sarah Hagen entered the field for Tymrak and Becca Moros with hopes of tying the match but Sky Blue FC’s back line led by U.S. Women’s National team defenders Christie Rampone and Kelley O’Hara stopped Kansas City’s attack.

FC Kansas City would have one more chance to score when the referee called a foul and carded O’Hara for a tackle on Holiday outside the box but Yael Averbuch’s free kick went over the crossbar to end the game 1-0 in favor of Sky Blue FC.

FC Kansas City (0-1-0, 0 pts) vs. Sky Blue FC (1-0-0, 3 pts)

Sunday, April 12, 2024 – Sporting Park (Kansas City, KS)

Scoring Summary

SBFC: Nadim (Morris), 29

Misconduct Summary

SBFC: O’Hara (Caution), 90

Lineups & Stats

FCKC: Barnhart, Robinson, Moros (Hagen), Sauerbrunn, LePeilbet, Averbuch, Buczkowski, Holiday, Tymrak (Groom), O’Reilly, Rodriguez.

TOTAL SHOTS: 15

SHOTS ON GOAL: 6

FOULS: 5

CORNER KICKS: 6

SAVES: 2

SBFC: Cameron, Rampone (Labonta), Nadim, Freels, Hayes (Stanton), Grubka, Killion, Cutshall, O’Hara, Levin, Morris (DeCesare).

TOTAL SHOTS: 5

SHOTS ON GOAL: 4

FOULS: 6

CORNER KICKS: 2

SAVES: 5

Next up, FC Kansas City will hit the road when they visit the Washington Spirit on Saturday, April 18^th at 6 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed live on YouTube.