Nikki Phillips and Amy Rodriguez each scored in the second half to lift FC Kansas City past the Boston Breakers 2-0 on Sunday night at Harvard Stadium, handing the Breakers their fourth straight loss.
The victory vaulted FC Kansas City (4-4-3, 15 pts.) into third place in the NWSL, but the Blues have played at least two more games than every other team in the league.
Rodriguez’s goal was the second of the game and her eighth of the season, tied for the NWSL lead after Seattle midfielder Kim Little scored a dramatic equalizer against the Western New York Flash on Sunday. After a series of passes, FC Kansas City midfielder Jen Buczkowski broke free on the right flank and sent a low, uncontested cross to the back post, where Rodriguez tapped the ball in to seal the game for the visitors in the 82nd minute.
Phillips opened the scoring in the scoring in the 62nd minute after Boston failed to properly clear Lauren Holiday’s left-footed, in-swinging corner kick. The ball dropped inside the 6-yard box and after momentary confusion, Phillips tapped the idle ball in from just over the goal line. It was the third consecutive match in which the Breakers couldn’t clear a ball inside their own 6-yard box.
The Breakers looked energetic to start the match, pressing FC Kansas City and creating chances that included Katie Schoepfer hitting the post in the 9th minute. She also forced a big save from FC Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart in the 27th minute, but Boston could not find net. The Breakers have scored seven goals in seven matches this season.
Boston (1-6-0, 3 pts.) now faces a short turnaround against a hungry Portland Thorns FC team on Wednesday at Harvard, while FC Kansas City has 10 days off after a grueling seven matches in May.