Kansas Metropolis Present ahead and 2024 NWSL Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga might be accessible for Sunday’s high-profile semifinal in opposition to the Orlando Delight, however Present head coach Vlatko Andonovski stated he’s uncertain how a lot she’s going to play.
“She was capable of get by means of the entire coaching as we speak,” Andonovski instructed reporters Friday. “Clearly, all of the measurements are actually to see how all the things goes. So, sure, she might be accessible. It is solely a query of, ‘How lengthy?'”
Chawinga missed Kansas Metropolis’s regular-season finale on Nov. 3 with a knee harm and was questionable main as much as the staff’s Nov. 10 quarterfinal in opposition to the North Carolina Braveness. She began and performed the complete 90 minutes whereas scoring the lone aim of the match to assist Kansas Metropolis advance to the semifinals.
After the match, Andonovski stated opponents have been “concentrating on” Chawinga. The ahead, who broke the NWSL’s single-season report by scoring 20 objectives this yr, was topic to a late foul and taunting from Braveness ahead Bianca St-Georges which led Kansas Metropolis defender Ellie Wheeler to shove St-Georges within the again.
Subsequent up for No. 4 seed Kansas Metropolis is a visit to No. 1 seed Orlando on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC). On the road is a berth within the closing, which is being hosted at CPKC Stadium in Kansas Metropolis on Nov. 23.
Orlando has not misplaced at dwelling all season and thrashed the Chicago Pink Stars, 4-1 final week within the quarterfinals.
The Delight defeated Kansas Metropolis 2-1 in July in a battle of then-unbeaten groups. Orlando gained the match regardless of enjoying the entire second half down a participant following Carrie Lawrence’s ejection earlier than halftime, and captain Marta celebrated vehemently after the ultimate whistle.
Kansas Metropolis ahead Michelle Cooper then posted to her Instagram that night time, “We are going to bear in mind the way in which they acted after the cameras had been off.”
The 2 groups met once more in Orlando in September and performed to a scoreless draw.
Orlando defender Kylie Strom stated on Friday that there’s a budding rivalry between the groups.
“Each time we’re able to play them, it does really feel like there is a totally different sense, a distinct vibe within the locker room, and additional motivation and additional focus for no matter cause,” Strom stated. “I believe it is simply credit score to each groups, credit score to them. They’re such a top quality opponent that we have now to be locked in. So, it is gonna be enjoyable. I believe each occasions we performed them, there’s been a little bit of drama, so I am certain this recreation might be nothing lower than that.”
Delight ahead Barbra Banda completed second within the league in scoring with 13 objectives within the common season. Banda and Chawinga had been locked into a decent race for the Golden Boot till Chawinga went on a run of scoring in seven of eight video games following the Olympic break, whereas Banda scored simply as soon as. Banda returned to her scoring methods final week, nonetheless, tallying a brace in opposition to Chicago.
Each groups ooze expertise past their major scoring threats. Orlando is the No. 1 seed and Defend winner after going unbeaten by means of the primary 23 video games of the yr and setting a brand new league factors report (60) for a season. Kansas Metropolis broke the single-season report for objectives (57) and has not misplaced a recreation since Sept. 1.
“One of the essential issues for us is that we have now to defend nicely as a unit,” Andonovski stated. “They’re an excellent staff, they’re very organized. If we give them little area, they will exploit them.”
Kansas Metropolis might be enjoying for the best to play a closing on dwelling soil later this month, with the NWSL predetermining its championship venue months upfront. Orlando, nonetheless, hopes to leverage its dwelling type.
“It is all the things,” Strom stated. “Inter&Co Stadium has change into a fortress for us. The followers have actually proven out this yr and it has been so enjoyable to play in. It is such an enormous benefit.”
The Washington Spirit and defending league champion NJ/NY Gotham FC face off within the different semifinal on Saturday, a matchup of the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively. All 4 prime seeds superior from the primary true quarterfinal spherical of playoffs in NWSL historical past.
Spirit head coach Jonatan Giraldez stated his staff must play “an ideal recreation” to win, whereas counterpart Juan Carlos Amoros stated there isn’t any further strain as defending champions.
“I believe the strain comes inside ourselves,” the Gotham FC coach stated. “I believe it is how a lot we wish to win. It hasn’t modified. Each time we go on a soccer pitch, we wish to present that — to point out that we’re the most effective staff.”