US-based Malawian women’s football icon Temwa Chawinga yesterday left it late to score her 12th goal in the Women’s National Soccer League (NWSL) to keep her golden boot defence campaign on the boil.
The Scorchers forward scored in the second minute of added time as her team Kansas City (KC) Current beat Bay FC 2-0.
KC Current took the lead through Michelle Cooper in the 45th minute
According to kansascity.com, Temwa made a run from midfield and raced through the Bay FC defence, fending off a defender for a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Silkowitz.
Temwa then fired a right-footed strike into the left side netting to seal the victory for the run-away leaders who have opened a 17-point gap at the top of the table.
KC Current now have 49 points from 19 matches, but second-placed Washington Spirit had a game in hand.
Temwa has once again caught up with Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez as joint leading scorers.
She could not be reached for comment yesterday, but her team coach Vlatko Andonovski was quoted as having said: “This win being our 16th this season means a lot more than anything else. Hopefully, we can string a couple more wins here and solidify home field advantage.”
The Malawian striker is one of the only two Africans nominated for 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or.
The other one is Zambian Barbara Banda, who also plays in the US women’s top-flight for Orlando Pride.
In her debut season last year, Temwa won the league’s golden boot with a record 20 goals and was named the Most Valuable Player .
