Aïssata Traoré’s parting gift to Boston Legacy is winning goal against the Kansas City Current
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — After a loss to the Kansas City Current on May 30, Boston Legacy FC embarked on what the team called a “second preseason” during the NWSL’s month-long break for the men’s World Cup.
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The Legacy emerged from that pause feeling refreshed and more confident in their approach — though they insist the game plan hasn’t changed over the course of the season; they’ve just grown into it.
On Saturday, the Legacy put that growth on display, flipping the script in a 1-0 victory over the Current in front of 8,939 fans at Rhode Island’s Centreville Bank Stadium.
Aïssata Traoré’s goal in the 18th minute, her team-leading fifth tally of the season, was the difference. The Malian striker nearly doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, but she missed a wide-open net on a cross from Nichelle Prince, who had beat Current goalkeeper Marisa Jordan on the edge of the box.
Saturday was Traoré’s final game in Legacy green before she heads to Morocco to represent Mali at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from Sunday through Aug. 16.
While the Legacy (5-8-4, 19 points) still sit near the bottom of the table, they’ve found some consistency in recent weeks.
Prior to a 2-1 loss to Washington on Sunday, the Legacy had won two in a row and now have 10 points in the last five games.
The early lead against the Current was a change of pace for the Legacy, who have become accustomed to playing from behind early this season.
They’ve conceded goals first in 13 of their 17 matches, and while the players often laud their squad’s ability to remain competitive in games while trailing, it’s a position they’re trying to avoid by playing a high press from the jump.
That strategy paid off for the Legacy in the 18th minute. The Current appeared to have cleared a corner, but Barb Olivieri kept it in and sent the ball back into the box, where it pinballed around before finding Traoré, who buried it for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
While the Current sit in a playoff position, they allowed the game’s first goal for the 11th time in 16 games. Haley Hopkins nearly bucked that trend in the second minute on a header off Croix Bethune’s corner kick, but her effort glanced off the crossbar, and Jorelyn Carabalì cleared it out of trouble.
Officially, Legacy goalkeeper Casey Murphy made just two first-half saves, but the veteran was busy with both her hands and feet throughout the first 45 minutes while the Current sought the equalizer.
The Legacy were without a big offensive piece as Brazilian striker Amanda Gutierres, who entered Saturday tied with Traoré for the team lead in goals with four, was out with a thigh injury.
The Legacy will hope for her swift return as Traoré’s impending departure looms.
Traoré was available for Saturday’s game because Mali doesn’t play its first match until Wednesday.
But the Current wasn’t so lucky with the timing, as they were without top scorer Temwa Chawinga, who is representing Malawi at Women’s Africa Cup. Malawi will open the tournament Tuesday against defending champion Nigeria.
Chawinga won the Golden Boot and NWSL MVP in each of the last two seasons and is tied for second in the league with nine goals in 11 games this season.
The Legacy have four home games remaining on their schedule and will embark on a road-heavy second half of the season, with their next match against Denver Summit FC Aug. 2 at 9 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.
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