USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Advance to Semifinals with 1-0 Win over Dayton

Published on August 24, 2013 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Kickers advanced to the USL PRO Semifinals, edging the Dayton Dutch Lions 1-0 Saturday night in front of a crowd of 4,265. Kickers midfielder Joseph Ngwenya gave the home side the advantage with a second half goal and goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra posted three saves to preserve the shutout to keep the Kickers undefeated at City Stadium this season.

With a berth to the Semifinals and home field advantage on the line, the Kickers tested Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams in the 6th minute when a free kick just outside the box rebounded out to Luke Vercollone. The veteran midfielder flicked the ball back into the mix, finding Alex Lee in the air but his header soared just wide.

The Dutch Lions retaliated three minutes later when a long ball from their own half found Eli Garner in Kickers territory. Heavily marked at the left touchline, the swift forward muscled his way to the box and turned his mark but hooked his shot just wide of the near post.

Just past the half hour mark, Vercollone intercepted the ball in the midfield and played it wide to Brian Ownby. Racing down the left wing, he drove a low shot from point blank range but Dutch Lions defender Shintaro Harada rushed in for a last second clearance over the end line.

Later, Dutch Lions midfielder Joel DeLass battled for possession on the right flank, eluded his defender and rocketed a low shot to the near post but Dykstra smothered his attempt.

Minutes before the break, Kickers defender Sascha Görres whipped a cross into the box from deep on the left side, connecting with Matthew Delicate at the back post but his target man's header glanced just wide to send the teams into the locker room scoreless.

Following the restart, Dayton attempted to break the ice when Garner exploded down the left wing with Kickers defenders in hot pursuit. Drawing them nearly to the endline, he sliced a curling cross into the box, finding Gibson Bardsley in prime position but the resulting shot was batted away by Dykstra.

The Kickers answered back in the 62nd minute when Ownby stole the ball in Dayton's half and was off to the races down the right sideline. Drawing the keeper, and Dayton defenders, he slotted a square ball into the path of Delicate, but the forward could not reach in time as Williams swatted the ball from harm's way.

The home side was not to be denied again four minutes later when a poor clearance ricocheted behind the defense to an onrushing Ngwenya. Streaking through the midfield, he latched onto the loose ball and barreled into the box. Facing Williams 1v1, he calmly tapped in a low ball just inside the right post.

Vercollone nearly doubled the score in the final minutes of regulation when second half substitute Nate Robinson played the ball back to the midfielder posted at the top of the box but his laser shot through traffic was deflected over the crossbar.

In a last gasp effort to level the score, Dayton forward Brandon Swartzendruber swept up a loose ball in the midfield and fed it through to an unmarked Joe Broekhuizen. With the club's postseason future on the line, he struck a low driven shot on target but Dykstra threw himself off his line to parry the ball wide to send the Kickers through to the next round.

The Kickers return to City Stadium next Saturday, August 31 to host the Charlotte Eagles in the USL PRO Semifinals. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 24, 2013


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