The first midweek match of the NWSL season is a good one. FC Kansas City will play at their new home, Swope Soccer Village, for the first time in a rematch of the 2014 NWSL Championship in which they upset the Reign in Seattle. The Blues will also be looking to avoid the league’s first 0-3 start while the Reign will be trying not to lose consecutive matches for the first time since 2013.

Thursday

Seattle Reign FC (1-1-0) at FC Kansas City (0-2-0)
8:00 pm EDT, Swope Soccer Village
Watch: Youtube
Series: FC Kansas City leads, 4-1-2 (plus Kansas City, 1-0-0 in playoffs)

Points of Interest: The Blues are 0-2 despite out-shooting their opponents 36-15 over those three hours of soccer. They have been undone by the inability to finish as well as untimely giveaways. The latter will spell doom against a Reign team that is excellent on the counter. The Reign lost in Chicago on a stoppage time goal that marked the first time they have conceded three in a match since August 3, 2013—also in Chicago. The Reign have also never won in the Midwest (0-5-3 in Kansas City and Chicago), including 0-2-2 in away matches against FC Kansas City.