Kansas City Current ride 2-0 halftime advantage to 2-1 victory over Wave in San Diego

With wave after wave throughout the first half on Sunday, the Kansas City Current pressed first-place San Diego in its defensive third, generating turnover after turnover.

The chances that flowed in transition led to two first-half goals by the Current, including yet another from Overland Park native Cece Kizer, to secure a 2-1 victory that extended their torrid unbeaten streak to nine games.

The National Women’s Soccer League expansion team Wave, who entered the match tied with the Portland Thorns for the league’s best record, lost their first game at home this season.

The Current (6-4-4) are now just three points out of first place behind Portland and San Diego.

“You can really see a togetherness and a belief in the partnerships that are building, the connection on the field,” Current captain and season soccer veteran Desiree Scott said. “You know, people are working for one another and we’re just becoming more of a team.”

Kizer got the scoring started in the 27th minute after Kristen Hamilton played her into open space down the right channel. Kizer took the ball all the way to the goal and got the ball past Wave keeper Kailen Sheridan.

Kizer’s fourth goal of the season came on her 25th birthday, and now she’s closing in on her career high for goals in a season — five.

The Current’s press ran the Wave ragged throughout the first half. While they had just 48% of possession, the Current took a total of 17 shots in the match.

Current coach Matt Potter called their performance their most complete first half of the season. He credited his backroom staff for coming up with the right game plan to handle the Wave. The players in turn put that plan into action.

“We had a really good week of practice where the quality was there to support the energy and endeavor,” Potter said. “I thought that was reflected in the way we went about that first half. So very positive.”

Hailie Mace doubled the lead in the 39th minute with a stunning strike. She intercepted a pass in the middle third of the field, carried the ball to the top of the box and then ripped a curling effort into the top-right corner.

“I think we’re just doing our principles and following what we do in training every day,” Mace said. “When someone releases forward, we support from behind. So I was honestly just doing that on the goal, and ended up getting a lot of space and a shot off.”

The Current nearly made it 3-0 when Elyse Bennett earned a second-half penalty kick. But Sheridan, the all-time PK saves leader in NWSL history, stopped Lo Labonta’s attempt from point-blank range.

Amirah Ali got one goal back for the Wave in the 88th minute to complete the scoring.

Scott surpassed the 10,000-minute mark for her career in the 60th minute on Sunday. She is the second Canadian and 29th player in NWSL history to reach that milestone.

“It’s a running joke I’ve been trying to retire since 2016, and here we are still kicking,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m really here because of my teammates who keep me coming back every day. I just love this league, love the game.”

The Current head east Saturday to play the North Carolina Courage — a rematch of the two teams’ Challenge Cup semifinal. That match kicks off at 7 p.m. Central Time.