RECAP: FC Kansas City rally falls short in loss to Washington Spirit

KANSAS CITY (July 16, 2024) – FC Kansas City’s late rally fell short as the Blues lost to the Washington Spirit for the second time in as many weeks. Frances Silva scored her first goal of the season and Shea Groom added her third in two games in the 3-2 loss at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday night. The two-time defending champions fell to 3-6-4 and the Spirit improved to 8-2-2 with their first victory in Kansas City in five attempts.

The two teams played through more than 45 minutes of scoreless soccer before Washington’s Estefania Banini put the Spirit on the board in stoppage time after the first half. Joanna Lohman added to the lead in the 59th to match the Blues’ largest deficit of the season.

About 10 minutes later, Silva answered with a header off a corner kick. It was the Blues third header in two games, joining Groom’s pair against Portland Thorns FC.

FC Kansas City had a few opportunities to equalize with 14 second half shots, and five of those on goal. However, Banini found the back of the net again in the 83rd minute to effectively put the game out of reach. Groom scored in stoppage time, but it was not enough to overcome first three-goal performance by an opponent since July 29, 2024.

The Blues will play two more games before taking a scheduling break for the Rio Olympic Games. Both will be on the road with the Western New York Flash on the 23rd and Chicago Red Stars on the 30th. Their next home game will be August 28 against the Boston Breakers.

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

NWSL Match Report

Match: FC Kansas City vs. Washington Spirit

Date: July 16, 2024

Venue: Swope Soccer Village

Attendance: 2,013

Weather: 88 degrees

Scoring Summary:

1          WAS     Banini              45th

2          WAS     Lohman           59th

3          KC        Silva (Tymrak) 69th

4          WAS     Banini              83rd

5          KC        Groom             90th

Lineups:

KC: Barnhart; Reed, Bowen, Averbuch, Taylor, LaBonta, Silva (Weimer 83’), Tymrak, Laddish, McCarty (Kastor 84’), Groom.

Subs not used: Parkhill; Menchel, Newfield.

Coach: Vlatko Andonovski 

WAS: Wys; Dydasco, Johnson, Oyster, Church (Kleiner 80’), Nairn, Huster, Lohman, Banini, Ordega (Farquharson 84’), Williams (Stengel 63’).

Subs not used: Haracic, Murphy.

Coach: Jim Gabarra

Stats Summary KC/WAS:

Goals 2/3

Saves 1/6

Offsides 2/0

Shots 20/14

Fouls 16/10

Corners 6/6

Conduct Summary:

28        KC        Lo’eau LaBonta           YC        Reckless Foul

62        WAS     Caprice Dydasco         YC        Tactical Foul

71        WAS     Joanna Lohman           YC        Tactical Foul

78        KC        Shea Groom                YC        Tactical Foul

REFEREE: Elvis Mahmutovic

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: TJ Zablocki

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Maggie Short

4TH OFFICIAL: Christopher Slane

REFEREE ASSESSOR: Abiodun Okulaja

 --- www.FCKansasCity.com ---