Bay FC no match for NWSL’s top team as winless streak reaches three games
Bay FC allowed a goal off a turnover less than three minutes into the first half and fell apart in a 4-1 loss to the NWSL-leading Kansas City Current on Sunday before an announced Mother’s Day crowd of 11,500 at CPKC Stadium.
On a goal kick, Bay FC’s Jordan Silkowitz sent a pass from the 6-yard box intended for a teammate just short of midfield. Instead, the pass went to Kansas City’s Hailie Mace, who one-touched it ahead to Bia Zaneratto. The forward then sent a left-footed shot to the bottom-right corner for a 1-0 lead in the third minute.
Kansas City peppered the Bay FC net with five shot attempts, with two on target, in the opening 15 minutes.
Midfielder Debinha added goals in the 33rd and 38th minutes to give Kansas City a 3-0 lead.
Bay FC (2-2-4) took a more offensive-minded approach after the first half and got a goal from forward Penelope Hocking in the 53rd minute. Caroline Conti took a corner kick and headed it to Hocking, who quickly turned around and scored past Kansas City keeper Lorena for her first goal of the season.
But nine minutes later, Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga restored her team’s three-goal lead with a goal off an assist from Mace.Bay FC had averaged just one goal per game before Sunday, and tried to open things up to help generate more offense. Instead, the result was Bay FC’s most lopsided of the season as the team fell to 11th in the 14-team NWSL with eight points, 10 points back of Kansas City.
Bay FC is the fifth-lowest scoring team in the league. Before Sunday, Kiki Pickett and Karlie Lema had two goals each, with Racheal Kundananji, Joelle Anderson and Caroline Conti each adding one.
The Current, by contrast, has outscored their eight opponents this season 18-6.
“Today we knew we were going to take a risk and play into a bigger shape,” Bay FC coach Albertin Montoya said. “The last couple of games we’ve been a bit more defensive, and we knew that this would be a difficult game. This is the mentality we’re going to have, our players enjoy playing this type of football, and we just have to be a little bit cleaner on keeping the ball.”
Bay FC will carry a three-game winless streak into Saturday’s home game against Angel City FC.