Fastest to 25: Chawinga units NWSL scoring file

Kansas City Current ahead Temwa Chawinga turned into the quickest participant in NWSL historical past to attain 25 occupation common season targets on Friday when she scored in a 1-0 victory over the Orlando Pride. Chawinga reached the feat in 34 video games.

“Happy for her, but also, I don’t think Temwa’s going to stop here,” Kansas City head trainer Vlatko Andonovski stated. “She’s got a lot more to offer.”

But Chawinga left the fit within the 89th minute because of an harm.

Andonovski showed that Chawinga’s factor on Friday was once associated with an unspecified leg harm that the 2024 NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner has handled during this season.

The win prolonged the Current’s lead atop the NWSL desk to 4 issues and avenged a 2024 semifinal loss to the Pride, who received the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship ultimate 12 months.

Kansas City, anchored via centerback Kayla Sharples, installed a gritty defensive efficiency towards a skilled Pride assault.

Chawinga scored within the 52nd minute when she ran onto a ball excessive that became round Orlando’s protection.

“I’m very proud of the team,” Andonovski stated. “To come here and win a game, you have to not just be very good and show lots of quality, you have to have a heart. If you don’t have a heart, you have no chance. And today, I think we showed heart as a team.”

The victory got here at a probably top price, alternatively. Midfielder Debinha and centerback Alana Cook additionally left the fit injured in the second one part.

Cook went directly down the tunnel to the locker room after having her left knee evaluated via the instructor.

Andonovski stated he didn’t have any particular knowledge to percentage on any of the wounds, “but all I can say is that I hope that it’s not anything serious and we have them back soon.”

Orlando has now misplaced 3 of its ultimate 5 video games and received handiest as soon as in that extend, a 3-2 win over Angel City FC after happening 2-0. The Pride equalized in stoppage time towards the North Carolina Courage ultimate week to salvage some degree.

Orlando began ultimate season on a 23-game unbeaten streak.

With the loss and the San Diego Wave‘s 1-0 win over Gotham FC on Friday, the Pride fell right into a tie for 3rd. The protecting champions may fall so far as 5th position via the top of the weekend, relying on different effects.

Andonovski was once fast to warning that “the season is long” when requested about his crew’s cushion within the NWSL Shield race, however he known as Friday’s victory a self assurance spice up.

The Current’s objective continues to be to win a trophy, one thing they did not do ultimate 12 months in spite of beginning the 2024 season on a 15-game unbeaten streak and atmosphere a league file for targets scored (57).

“We want to be the best team,” Sharples stated. “We want to be peaking at the right moments. We want to win a final, and that’s the most important game. So, we just have to get the job done in these games in order to get there.”