Temwa Chawinga delivered a ruthless center-forward display on Sunday, firing a hat trick to lead Kansas City Current to a 3-0 victory over Chicago Stars FC at CPKC Stadium in National Women’s Soccer League action.
In front of an announced crowd of 11,500 in Kansas City, the Current made their attacking edge count even without dominating possession. Chicago saw more of the ball at 53.4 percent, but the home side were sharper in the decisive moments, finishing with 18 shots, nine on target and three goals.
The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute, when Chawinga found the net to put Kansas City 1-0 ahead. It was the key moment of a first half in which the Current looked the more dangerous side in transition, stretching Chicago’s back line whenever space opened up. Chicago’s frustration showed in the 34th minute when Nádia Gomes went into the book, and the visitors went into the interval trailing by a single goal.
If the first half left Chicago with hope, the opening minutes after the restart quickly took it away. Chawinga struck again in the 47th minute to double Kansas City’s advantage, and before the visitors could reset their shape, she completed her hat trick in the 49th minute with a third goal in a devastating burst.
That three-minute spell effectively settled the fixture. Kansas City’s front line continued to threaten, and the Current finished with six corners and 14 shot assists in a polished attacking performance. Chicago managed 11 shots and four on target, but they could not find a way past the Kansas City defense or produce the finishing touch needed to make a contest of the second half.
The result lifts the Current to 4-0-4 on the season, while Chicago Stars FC drop to 2-0-7. More than anything, this afternoon belonged to Chawinga, whose goals in the 22nd, 47th and 49th minutes turned a competitive contest into a convincing home win.
Kansas City Current now head into their next fixture with momentum and a star forward in red-hot form. Chicago, meanwhile, will look to regroup quickly after a match that was tight for long stretches before slipping away in a punishing start to the second half.
