Cordoves Scores as Kickers Fall at Bethlehem
May 6, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release
BETHLEHEM, PA - The Richmond Kickers (2-4-1) fell on the road Sunday evening against Bethlehem Steel FC (2-3-2) at Goodman Stadium. Heviel Cordovés scored his first goal of the season behind an assist from Austin Yearwood after coming on as an early substitute. Bethlehem responded with three unanswered goals by a first half goal from Matthew Real and then second half goals by Santi Moar and a converted penalty by Chris Nanco.
Steel FC nearly took an early lead in the third minute. Adam Najem from the right side played in a free kick into the Richmond box and picked out Santi Moar with a header as he was going towards the far post and pings it off the crossbar. Richmond cleared the ball away from danger.
Santi Moar looked for another opportunity to take the lead ten minutes later. Najem fed the ball up the left side to Moar. He took a touch and cut inside the top of the Richmond box. Moar tried to sneak a shot into the near post as Travis Worra was there to make the stop.
Heviel Cordovés came into the match in the 10th minute for an injured Giuseppe Gentile and made his impact felt five minutes later. Brian Shriver controlled the ball out wide left in the corner and played the ball back for Austin Yearwood making a run up the field. After a give and go with Shriver, Yearwood broke into the box and played the ball back to the center of the Bethlehem box for the substitute Cordovés. He quickly took a one-time chip to the far post and opened up his account with the Kickers.
Adam Najem was denied by the crossbar to keep Bethlehem off the scoresheet in the 27th minute. Najem won the ball inside the center circle and fed it up the right side of the field for Santi Moar. Moar looked to try to create enough space for a shot, instead he left the ball for Najem at the top of the box for a quick shot off the crossbar.
Three minutes later and Bethlehem would finally level the score through Matthew Real. Moar received the ball out wide left. He reached the end line and took a quick touch to get by Conor Shanosky. Seeing Real in space, Moar played the quick pass for Real and he took the quick, low shot to Worra's right and into the back of the net.
Drew Skundrich nearly gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute. Moar kept the Kickers defense busy, getting to the end line and having enough time to chip in a cross. Skundrich leapt to meet the ball for a header that he puts just wide of the Kickers goal.
Heviel Cordovés came close to his second goal of the night in first half stoppage time. Alex Lee from the right side whipped in a perfectly placed cross into the box. Cordovés tried to just get a touch on it as it went just wide of the post and out for goal kick.
The woodwork came to the rescue for Richmond once again two minutes into the start of the second half. Fabian Herbers played the ball out wide left for Santi Moar. He took the ball up to the six-yard box and looked to the near post, and hits it as it deflects for a goal kick for Richmond.
Mekeil Williams came up with a goal line save in the 55th minute to keep Richmond in the match. Fabian Herbers slide the ball through for Matthew Real making an overlapping run. Real squared the ball for Skundrich in lots of space inside the box and went for a shot. Williams was there to head it off the line.
Santi Moar came up with the go ahead goal for Steel FC in the 68th minute. Adam Najem played a quick corner kick to Moar on the left side. He found enough space to get in front of goal and shot towards the far post and in the goal.
A penalty kick in the 83rd minute gave Bethlehem their third goal of the night. Aidan Apodaca found enough space for a break away run towards the Richmond goal. He took a touch trying to get around Travis Worra as he brought down Apodaca and the referee pointed to the spot. Chris Nanco stepped up and went to the right of Worra and buried it.
The Kickers will return home to City Stadium Saturday, May 12 as the Tampa Bay Rowdies come to town for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for Bark and Brew Fest with live music by Rear View Mirror, pet-centric vendors and RVA food trucks including legendary burgers from Carytown Burgers & Fries, Mediterranean-inspired kebobs and sandwiches from Sticks Kebob Shop and all-natural smoothies from Pulp Fiction. Tickets are available now at RichmondKickers.com.
BOX SCORE
First Half Second Half Final
Bethlehem 1 2 3
Richmond 1 0 1
LINEUPS
Bethlehem GK Jake McGuire, Matt Real, Brandon Aubrey, Matt Mahoney, Oliver Mbaizo, Derrick Jones, Drew Skundrich, Adam Najem, Fabian Herbers (66' - Chris Nanco), Santi Moar (85' - Michee Ngalina), Brandon Allen (66' - Aidan Apodaca)
Unused Substitutes: Kris Shakes, Mike Catalano, Prosper Chiluya, AJ Paterson
Richmond GK Travis Worra, Raul Gonzalez, Alex Lee, Mekeil Williams, Conor Shanosky, Austin Yearwood, Oscar Umar (81' - Fred Owusu Sekyere), Yudai Imura, Koby Osei-Wusu, Giuseppe Gentile (10' - Heviel Cordovés, 68' - Luiz Fernando), Brian Shriver
Unused Substitutes: Trevor Spangenberg, Matt Bolduc, Neil Hlavaty, William Yomby
STATISTICS
Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Bethlehem 30 0 9 4
Richmond 7 6 15 5
SCORING SUMMARY
15' RIC Heviel Cordovés (Austin Yearwood)
29' BST Matthew Real (Santi Moar)
68' BST Santi Moar (Adam Najem)
83' BST Chris Nanco (penalty
CAUTIONS SUMMARY
36' RIC Heviel Cordovés
72' RIC Austin Yearwood
72' BST Drew Skundrich
79' RIC Oscar Umar
85' RIC Alex Lee
EJECTIONS SUMMARY
None.
MATCH INFORMATION
Referee: Thomas Snyder
Assistant Referees: Tyler Wyrostek, Jaroslaw Werel
Fourth Official: Bobby Cordrey
Attendance: 2,116
Weather: Rain, 63 ºF
Please call 804-644-5425 ext. 316 for more information.
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