Late Lavogez brace earns Kansas City Current a comeback road win at Angel City FC

Claire Lavgoez scored her first goals for the Kansas City Current in 579 days, and they couldn’t have come at a better time.

Or in a more exciting fashion on the road.

The Current trailed Angel City FC 1-0 in the second half at Los Angeles on Friday until Vanessa DiBernardo’s stunning strike from distance leveled the match.

Lavogez then delivered a 90th-minute game-winner ... and three minutes later scored again as the Current shocked their hosts 3-1 at BMO Stadium.

“It was crazy for me today to score two goals,” she said. “It’s been a long time, and I don’t have words.”

Lavogez missed almost all of the 2023 season after tearing her ACL in the 2022 playoffs. She said with a laugh Friday night that she could die happy now.

“I cried a lot during this process,” Lavgoez said. “It was very hard. I’m just so happy to score today. It was amazing.”

With the win, the Current remained atop the National Women’s Soccer League standings, unbeaten through six matches at 5-0-1.

Red-hot Claire Emslie scored the opener for Angel City. She wove her way through the Current backline, which was stretched out of shape. Emslie’s left-footed strike got past KC keeper AD Franch, marking Emslie’s third straight game with a goal.

In general, the Current looked overwhelmed by Angel City. The host side seemed to have a numerical advantage in every situation and were winning the physical battles, too.

With about five minutes left in the half, KC coach Vlatko Andonovski and his staff discussed what was needed.

“We just needed to see the game out until halftime, and then we were gonna go straight in their face,” Andonovski said.

The Current made two substitutions at halftime, bringing on Hailie Mace at right back and Cooper on the right wing. They delivered a much-needed physical boost, and the Current began to find its footing.

The visitors also initiated a tactical change, playing man-to-man across the field. While this can be dangerous, the risk paid off. Current players stepped up to win their individual battles across the field and give Kansas City the advantage it needed in the second half.

“In the second half, I thought there was no question who had the better chance to win the game,” Andonovski said. “I’m very happy with the way the team adjusted in the second half.”

DiBernardo, who was tied atop the league leaderboard for goal contributions entering Friday evening’s match, fired the equalizer into the top corner of the net from outside the box in the 55th minute.

Then came Lavogez’s heroics.

KC’s Izzy Rodriguez and Debinha drew everyone’s attention down the flank, and their passing combination freed Rodriguez into space behind Angel City’s defense. Lavogez flicked in her cross as the clock turned to the 90th minute.

As Angel City pushed back for an equalizer of its own, the Current jumped into action in the manner to which Kansas City fans have grown accustomed. They picked off passes and drove forward with numbers.

KC’s Temwa Chawinga picked up a ball at the top of the box and dribbled all the way toward the Angel City goal. Chawinga’s shot was deflected into the path of Lavogez, whose tap-in completed her brace.

Sometimes it takes some time for a player to return to her old self following an injury. Friday’s game was the longest stretch of minutes Lavogez has played since she hurt her ACL.

Andonovski said he thinks her two goals in L.A. will give her a boost going forward.

“For a player like Claire, they need a little boost,” he said. “They need a good game, they need a goal, they need an assist, they need something in order to get back faster or sooner to the level they were before the injury.

“I think these two goals come at the right time for us, and I’m very happy for her because she has worked so hard for this moment.”

The Current will travel to Houston next Sunday, May 5, to take on the Dash in a match scheduled to kick off at noon Central Time.