Vanessa DiBernardo had a goal and an assist to open the Kansas City Current’s early scoring burst in a 5-4 victory against the Portland Thorns in the season-opening game in the National Women’s Soccer League on Saturday at Kansas City, Mo.
Ellis Wheeler, Bria Zaneratto, Kristen Hamilton and Alex Pfeifer also scored for the Current, who had a commanding 5-1 lead by the 68th minute before closing out the victory.
It was the inaugural game at the Current’s new CPKC Stadium along the banks of the Missouri River.
Sophia Smith and Janine Beckie each scored two goals for Portland, with Beckie’s final score of the game in extra time.
DiBernardo scored in the 22nd minute for the first of three Kansas City goals in a 12-minute stretch. The first goal came after Thorns goalkeeper Shelby Hogan misplayed a ball, allowing the Current to stay on the attack.
DiBernardo assisted on Zaneratto’s goal in the 34th minute for a 3-0 lead.
Smith scored in the last two minutes before halftime, with Jessie Fleming supplying an assist.
–Field Level Media