The first two matchups of the 2024 NWSL playoffs are complete, with the Orlando Pride and Kansas City Current locking up wins over the Chicago Red Stars and North Carolina Courage. Pride forward Barbra Banda and Current forward Temwa Chawinga led their teams to victory in the first of three exciting, single-elimination rounds for the NWSL postseason.
Orlando Pride 4, Chicago Red Stars 1
The Pride have extended a historic 2024 season with their first playoff win, dominating the Red Stars 4-1 on Friday behind a brace from Banda.
Haley McCutcheon opened the scoring for Orlando in the 26th minute, getting her head on the ball after a few blocks from the Red Stars defense.
Banda scored her first goal in the 39th minute, calmly pushing the ball past goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and into the back of the net. She scored her second in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, once again showing off her speed and getting the ball past Naeher.
Orlando captain Marta widened the gap with a beautiful penalty kick in the 56th minute. The goal, somewhat shockingly, marked Marta’s first in the NWSL playoffs (Orlando has not made the postseason since 2017, when Marta joined the team).
Chicago didn’t go home completely empty-handed, with forward Jameese Joseph tapping in a goal off Pride goalie Anna Moorhouse in the 60th minute. But it was always Orlando’s game, with Chicago simply overwhelmed by the Shield winners in the 4-1 loss.
Kansas City Current 1, North Carolina Courage 0
In a physical, balanced game — and what is likely to be one of the more even matchups in this postseason — the Kansas City Current outlasted the North Carolina Courage for a 1-0 win off an early goal on Saturday.
Star Current forward Chawinga got things off to an early start for Kansas City, notching a chaotic goal in the eighth minute. After North Carolina made the mistake of giving Chawinga room up the side, the Malawian forward quickly pushed the ball into the box.
Chawinga’s first strike was saved by Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy, the follow-up from midfielder Debinha was saved by the post, and Chawinga’s second strike was saved by defender Kaleigh Kurtz, but a goal was seemingly inevitable. Third time was the charm for Chawinga, notching the goal and giving Kansas City an early 1-0 lead.
Chawinga and Kansas city had chances to extend their lead, but Murphy made several key saves throughout both halves to hold the score. Current goalkeeper Almuth Schult racked up key saves of her own to keep North Carolina scoreless.
Both teams kept up the pressure in the second half, but were unable to convert and change the scoreline. In the end, that first goal was all that Kansas City needed.
The Current will now play the Pride in the semifinals, traveling to Orlando to face off with the NWSL Shield winners.
The final two spots will be determined on Sunday, with the Washington Spirit and Bay FC facing off first and then Gotham FC hosting the Portland Thorns.