NWSL playoffs: Cooper’s extra-time penalty sends Kansas City through as Utah stun San Diego

Michelle Cooper converted an extra-time penalty to give the Kansas City Current a 1-0 victory over Angel City on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.

The fourth-seeded Current will face the winner of Sunday’s quarter-final between top-seeded Gotham FC and No 8 Seattle Reign FC in next weekend’s semi-finals.

Kansas City, the only NWSL team to finish the regular season unbeaten at home, extended that run into the postseason.

Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson made five saves in regulation. Four minutes into extra time, Kansas City defender Izzy Rodriguez sent in a corner kick. Before the ball went over the crossbar, Current defender Kayla Sharples went to ground near the goal line after contact with Anderson and midfielder Ary Borges. Kansas City were awarded a penalty, which Cooper converted.

The teams combined for 25 fouls in a physical encounter. Fifth-seeded Angel City collected three yellow cards in regulation, the first in the 13th minute when Sveindís Jónsdóttir slid into Gabrielle Robinson from behind as the Kansas City defender shielded the ball near her end line.

Borges was booked in the 58th minute after catching Vanessa DiBernardo with her cleat as they challenged for a ball in the air. In second-half stoppage time, Maiara Niehues clipped Cooper’s heel and knocked off her cleat. Kansas City’s only yellow card went to Temwa Chawinga in the 114th minute.

San Diego Wave 0-1 Utah Royals

The seventh-seeded Utah Royals earned their first playoff victory with a 1-0 upset of the second-seeded San Diego Wave in Friday night’s NWSL quarter-final.

Cloé Lacasse delivered a pinpoint low cross to Kiana Palacios, who took a touch before firing home the game’s only goal in the 30th minute. It marked the first time Utah had led San Diego in any competition this season.

Royals goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made four saves to record her sixth clean sheet of the season.

“Unbelievable, it’s just everything you could hope for,” McGlynn said. “I’m like in shock, no words can describe this feeling.”

The Royals snapped a four-match winless streak and will travel to face either the third-seeded Washington Spirit or sixth-seeded Portland Thorns in the semi-finals. Washington host Portland in Sunday’s remaining quarter-final.

Both teams were missing key players. San Diego midfielder Kimmi Ascanio was unavailable with a thigh injury, while Utah midfielder Mina Tanaka, initially listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, was ruled out.

The Wave were held scoreless despite dominating possession (62% to 38%), shots (16-8) and shots on target (5-2).

San Diego entered the match on a seven-match unbeaten run but have now lost four consecutive playoff matches.