US-based Scorchers star Temwa Chawinga marked her first start for Kansas City Current since the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) by scoring as her side fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Orlando Pride on Friday night.
Temwa, making her first start since July 17 after representing Malawi at the Wafcon in Morocco, pulled one goal back in the 53rd minute before Elizabeth Ball completed the comeback three minutes later at CPKC Stadium.
Orlando had taken control through a Barbra Banda brace, with the Zambia’s Copper Queens star scoring in the 43rd and 50th minutes.
But Temwa provided the spark Kansas City needed, finishing a counterattack after Michelle Cooper slipped a pass through the Orlando defence.
The forward initially struggled to control the ball after it struck her back foot but recovered to weave through several defenders before firing past goalkeeper Cosette Morché.
The goal was Chawinga’s 10th of the season and 45th of her regular-season career, making her the first Current player to score at least 10 goals in each of her first three NWSL seasons.
Three minutes later, Ball completed the comeback by converting a rebound following a set-piece scramble.
Kansas City pushed for a winner but had to settle for a point, extending their league-record unbeaten home run to 29 matches.
The result left the Current sixth in the NWSL with 38 points from 24 matches.
Temwa’s coach Chris Armas praised his players for their response after falling two goals behind.
“I am really proud of the entire team. I am proud of the team, especially the way we came back and stepped up, 100 minutes deep and we played to win and attack,” he said.
Temwa’s return to the starting line-up comes after she helped Malawi reach the Wafcon final, where she won the Golden Boot as the Scorchers finished runners-up to Cameroon.
Kansas City next travel to face San Diego Wave on September 18.
