San Diego Wave FC (1-2-1, 4 pts, 8th NWSL) allowed two goals early in the first half, including a penalty, and couldn’t find the scoresheet in a 2-0 loss to undefeated Kansas City Current (4-0-0, 12 pts, 1st NWSL).
Many of the Wave’s eight international players on the match roster were limited in minutes they played after they only got one practice between rejoining the club from the one-week FIFA international window and playing in Saturday’s match.
U.S. Youth National Team players Kimmi Ascanio and Melanie Barcenas, and forward Adriana Leon (Canada) entered in the 69th minute and played the final 20 minutes plus stoppage time. They put pressure on the Kansas City defense in their limited time.
Defender Hanna Lundkvist (Sweden) joined the match in the 76th minute after she started and played at least 85 minutes in each of the Wave’s first three matches before the international window.
Forwards Delphine Cascarino and Kenza Dali both played the full 90 minutes after they competed with the French national team in the UEFA Nations League tournament.
Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan also played the full 90 minutes. German midfielder Gia Corley was available as a sub but did not play.
San Diego wasn’t the only team affected by the international window taking away some of their best players. Kansas City had five players on their match roster who spent the international window away from the club, all of whom started for the Current. Only Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena Da Silva Leite played all 90 minutes.
U.S. forward Michelle Cooper played just the first half. Midfielder Claire Hutton (U.S.), defender Alana Cook (U.S.) and forward Nichelle Prince (Canada) were each replaced at the 76th minute.
The Wave held possession for nearly two-thirds of play and both teams each took eight shots with four of those on target.
Kansas City wing Debinha scored in the 16th minute and midfielder Lo’eau Labonta took a penalty shot in the 25th minute for the Current’s two scores.
Up next: The Wave will hit the road again to play Racing Louisville FC with a noon kickoff in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, April 19.