Things were looking pretty good for the Kansas City Current when star striker Debinha opened the scoring in the 33rd minute of Sunday afternoon’s National Women’s Soccer League semifinal match against the Orlando Pride in Florida.
But top-seeded Orlando equalized soon after and added two more goals to oust the fourth-seeded Current with a 3-2 decision at Inter & Co. Stadium in Orlando.
Afterward, devastated Current players huddled on the field one last time as manager Vlatko Andonovski and team captain Lo LaBonta delivered some final words.
Andonovski, the former U.S. Women’s National Team and FC Kansas City coach, told the players he was proud of them.
“There’s nothing I could say more that was going to make this moment any easier,” he said. “Losses are tough. Big losses are tougher.”
LaBonta said she wanted to look each of her teammates in the eye and tell them she loved them, and was proud of them.
“I told them all it was my honor to be on this team with them,” the veteran LaBonta said. “They’re the best teammates that anybody could ask for. They were great on the field, off the field.”