SAN JOSE, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2026) — The Kansas City Current (11-8-4, 37 pts., 6th place) earned a thrilling 2-1 road victory over Bay FC (6-12-4, 22 pts., 15th place) Friday night courtesy of an 89th minute match-winning goal from midfielder Rocky Rodríguez. R. Rodríguez’s game-winner was assisted by midfielder Croix Bethune, who picked up her NWSL record-tying 10th assist of the season. Defender Izzy Rodriguez opened the scoring in the 11th minute with an incredible Olimpico.
Defender Itala Gemelli, a late addition to the Current’s starting lineup made her league debut and played the full 90 minutes as the first KC Current II player to see NWSL regular season action. Bethune is now tied for first place in the NWSL with 10 assists with her match-winning feed to R. Rodríguez, a goal that extended the Current’s winning streak against Bay FC to five consecutive matches.
“I love the players that I coach. They’re a really special group of players and people,” said head coach Chris Armas. “And I can say that tonight was one of the prouder moments I am of the group. Because I think that it was a real display of what real teams look like: good teams that stick together, that don’t make excuses and just give everything…it was a really, really good team win. From the starters to the reserves, I’m really proud of the group.”
I. Rodriguez kicked things off in the 11th minute with an improbable goal scored directly from a corner kick. The effort came from the right corner arc, as I. Rodriguez served in a corner kick directly on goal with her preferred left foot. Her effort curled over the head of leaping Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz before settling perfectly in the lower left corner of the net.
The goal was I. Rodriguez’s first of the season and sixth of her regular season career. It also marked the Current’s seventh goal inside the first 15 minutes of a match in the NWSL regular season, tied for the second-best mark in the league this year.
Seven minutes later, forward Michelle Cooper latched onto a long cross and fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of goal for midfielder Debinha near the penalty spot. However, some last-ditch defending by Bay FC led to Debinha’s effort being blocked. Bay FC then leveled the contest just before halftime through forward Karlie Lema, and the match entered halftime level at 1-1.
The Current finally broke through in the 89th minute with a spectacular goal from R. Rodríguez. As Kansas City quickly regrouped to launch another forward move, Cooper clipped a ball into the Bay FC penalty area that rolled all the way to Bethune on the left side. Bethune split multiple Bay FC defenders and found a wide-open R. Rodríguez at the top of the 18-yard box. She settled herself with a touch, then curled a pristine left-footed strike that rose past the outstretched arms of Silkowitz and into the back of the net.
The goal marked R. Rodríguez’s first goal for Kansas City and her 15th career regular season goal. Bethune picked up her 10th assist of the 2026 campaign, tied with Utah’s Cloé Lacasse for the NWSL lead. That also matched the highest single season assist total in league history, as Bethune now joins herself (Washington, 2024), Lacasse (Utah, 2026) and Tobin Heath (Portland, 2016) as the only other players to have recorded 10 assists in a single regular season.
Kansas City saw the match out to earn the club’s fifth consecutive victory over Bay FC. Goalkeeper Marisa Jordan helped anchor the back line in her ninth regular season appearance, while defender Laney Rouse earned her first start since July 29 after returning from injury.
Kansas City kicks off its September home slate next Friday, as the Current welcomes the Orlando Pride to CPKC Stadium on Sept. 11. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. CT and will broadcast nationally on Prime Video. Fans in Kansas City can listen to the action over the air on 90.9 The Bridge, and the KC Current App will also carry an audio feed of the match in English, Spanish and Portuguese
Next Friday’s match also marks First Responders Night, as the Current will honor the lifesaving work of the everyday heroes who selflessly serve the community. The match will feature themed activations, a giveaway item and additional in-stadium recognition of first responders. Tickets to the match can be purchased HERE.
NWSL Match Report
Match: Bay FC vs. Kansas City Current
Date: Sept. 4, 2026
Venue: PayPal Park, San Jose, Calif.
Kickoff: 7:10 p.m. PT/9:10 p.m. CT
Weather: 68 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 10,569
Discipline
37’ Kansas City – Rouse (Yellow)
67’ Bay FC – Lema (Yellow)
73’ Kansas City – Bethune (Yellow)
84’ Bay FC – Bebar (Yellow)
Scoring
11’ Kansas City – I. Rodriguez
45+3’ Bay FC – Lema
89’ Kansas City – R. Rodríguez (Bethune)
Scoring Summary
1 2 F
Bay FC 1 0 1
Kansas City 1 1 2
Bay FC Lineup: Silkowitz, Nighswonger, Anderson (54’ Cometti), Gilchrist (85’ Bailey), Collins ©, Bebar, Hutton, Girelli, Pfeiffer (85’ Holzheier), Lema (73’ Kundananji), Huff
Unused Substitutes: Miller, Hubly, Dahlkemper, Conti, Barry
Kansas City Current Lineup: Jordan, I. Rodriguez, Sharples, Gemelli, Rouse (76’ White), DiBernardo (84’ Hocking), LaBonta ©, Bethune, Hopkins, Cooper, Debinha (66’ R. Rodríguez)
Unused Substitutes: Williams-Mosier, Paul, Feist
