Aïssata Traoré walks past supporters during Boston Legacy’s match against Kansas City Current at Centreville Bank Stadium. Photo by Charles Dybaud/Ivory Sports Media.
On a hot afternoon in Pawtucket, Aïssata Traoré gave Boston Legacy the moment they needed.
In the 18th minute, a Boston corner deflected off Bianca St-Georges and fell to Traoré inside the penalty area. She remained composed, kept her finish low, and sent the ball into the bottom corner.
It was the only goal of the match—and one final contribution for Boston before leaving to represent Mali at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Aïssata at the Center of Boston’s Movement
From where I was positioned with my camera, Boston appeared to begin in a 4-3-3, with Annie Karich operating as the holding midfielder behind Alba Caño and Barbara Olivieri.
But the shape changed when Boston had possession.
Lilly Reale pushed higher from the left side, allowing Traoré to leave the wing and move into a more central position. At the same time, Sammy Smith regularly dropped away from the forward line to receive between the lines and connect with the midfield.
Smith’s movement resembled that of a false nine. She could check toward the ball, receive with her back to goal, and lay passes off while Traoré attacked the space beyond Kansas City’s back line.
At times, those movements created the picture of a 3-5-2. However, it was not a complete formation change. It was a fluid attacking structure created by Reale advancing, Traoré moving inside, and Smith dropping underneath the attack.
That movement gave Aïssata the freedom to remain closer to goal and use her speed in behind.
Head coach Filipa Patão later highlighted Smith’s versatility and her ability to give Boston different positional solutions. That was visible throughout the first half. Boston moved the ball patiently, looked to switch the point of attack, and appeared comfortable changing positions without losing its balance.
Traoré’s goal came from a corner, but it rewarded a first half in which Boston looked connected and purposeful.
WATCH THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Boston Legacy FC 1–0 Kansas City Current · Official NWSL video
When Kansas City Forced Boston Deeper
The match changed after halftime.
Kansas City returned with greater urgency and began pushing Boston farther into its own half. Legacy’s defensive line dropped, the spaces became tighter, and the match became less about controlling possession and more about protecting the lead.
Boston still produced one major opportunity for Traoré. In the 62nd minute, Nichelle Prince got beyond the goalkeeper and played the ball across for Aïssata, but she could not make clean contact with the finish.
Traoré was replaced by Ella Stevens a few minutes later, bringing her final Boston appearance before WAFCON to an end.
As Kansas City continued applying pressure, Smith’s responsibilities also became more defensive. She dropped deeper to support the midfield and help Boston remain connected.
Kansas City found more possession and territory, but Legacy protected the central areas and forced much of the play away from the most dangerous spaces. Casey Murphy was still required to make four saves, showing that Boston’s defensive work was tested.
Jorelyn Carabalí helped anchor the back line and nearly added a second goal when her long-range effort struck the crossbar in stoppage time.
Deep into those additional minutes, Stevens was initially shown a yellow card following an aerial challenge. After a VAR review, the referee upgraded the decision to a red card.
Boston finished the final moments with 10 players but remained composed and protected the 1–0 victory—its third clean sheet in four matches.
One Match Ending, Another Beginning
For Aïssata, the timing of the goal made the moment feel different.
She arrived in Boston as the first Malian player in NWSL history. Now, after scoring the match winner in her final club appearance before the tournament, she turns her attention toward representing Mali on one of African football’s biggest stages.
The final score will simply read Boston Legacy 1, Kansas City Current 0.
But the photograph I keep returning to is Aïssata at the center of the celebration—surrounded by her Boston teammates after delivering the decisive moment.
One match ending in Pawtucket.
Another chapter waiting with Mali.
Aïssata Traoré carries the ball during Boston Legacy’s 1–0 victory over Kansas City Current—her final club appearance before joining Mali for WAFCON. Photo by Charles Dybaud/Ivory Sports Media.