Hailey
The Kansas City Current’s record-setting season ended with a shock 2-1 extra-time loss to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL quarterfinals at CPKC Stadium on November 9, 2025.
The No. 1 seed Current, owners of the league’s best points tally and a fearsome home record, were stunned by an 121st-minute winner after leveling late in regulation.
Quick Match Recap (What Happened)
Gotham drew first blood through Jaedyn Shaw (68′). The Current forced extra time when Ellie Wheeler smashed in an equaliser at 90′+6′.
With penalties looming, Gotham struck from a long free kick, Shaw’s flick finding Katie Stengel, who finished off the underside of the bar at 120′+1′. The sell-out crowd of 11,500 fell silent as the top seed exited the playoffs.
Key Numbers at a Glance
| Metric | KC Current | Gotham FC |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 1 | 2 |
| Possession | 42.5% | 57.5% |
| Shots (on target) | 16 (8) | 15 (5) |
| Saves | 3 | 7 |
| Corners | 4 | 2 |
| Cards (Y/R) | 2/0 | 2/0 |
| Attendance | 11,500 | — |
Where It Went Wrong for KC
1) Blunted edge without star finishers
The Current created enough chances (8 shots on target) but lacked the decisive final touch—magnified by the absence of Temwa Chawinga (Golden Boot) and Michelle Cooper through injury.
Gotham’s keeper turned away the game’s biggest moments, including a spectacular tip-over from Bia Zaneratto at 104′. Those saves flipped the script in extra time.
2) Transition trap in the first half, set-piece lapse at the last
Gotham controlled rhythm (57.5% possession), then punished KC twice when concentration wavered—first when a defender over-committed before Shaw’s opener, then on a long free-kick routine that Shaw redirected and Stengel buried.
A single lost duel on a dead ball sequence decided the tie.
3) Game management under pressure
Wheeler’s stoppage-time rocket gave KC a lifeline, but the Current couldn’t convert momentum in extra time.
Gotham stayed compact, weathered the attacking surge, and trusted their keeper—whose seven saves outpaced KC’s three—to keep the door closed for 30 minutes.
4) Margins at CPKC—finally broken
This was only the second visiting win at CPKC Stadium since it opened in 2024, ending KC’s 18-match home unbeaten run.
That fortress factor had been a tactical cushion all season; once removed, the Current had to chase a game Gotham was built to frustrate.
Tactical Snapshot
- Gotham’s press & block: The visitors alternated between a mid-block and sharp counter-press, slowing KC’s central progression and forcing wider, lower-percentage entries.
- KC’s chance creation: The Current generated volume (16 shots) but not premium looks often enough; the keeper’s shot-stopping and box control neutralized crosses and late cut-backs.
- Set-piece focus: A single long-restart misread in the 121st minute proved fatal—proof that late-game restarts must be treated like penalties in knockout football.
What It Means for 2026 (Forward-Looking Takeaways)
- Depth at the 9/wing: With key attackers unavailable, KC’s attack missed vertical threat and elite finishing. Off-season priority: a like-for-like pace/press forward and minutes-reliable depth at striker.
- Set-piece and late-game protocols: Expect pre-season emphasis on restart assignments, secondary balls, and extra-time substitution patterns to keep aerial matchups fresh.
- Load management & injury resiliency: KC’s historic regular season was spectacular—but October/November availability wins titles. Building redundancy for top scorers is essential.
The KC Current weren’t out-classed—they were out-clutched. Gotham FC executed in the two critical windows that decide knockout ties: the first strike after a defensive lapse, and a late set-piece when legs are heavy and minds are tired.
With the core intact and a fortress still formidable, the Current can turn this pain into fuel—tightening set-piece discipline, reinforcing attacking depth, and returning in 2026 with a smarter, sharper plan for the moments that matter most.