USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers and Rochester Battle to 1-1 Draw

August 9, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Richmond Kickers escaped the second leg of a grueling two-games-in-less-than-24-hours gauntlet with a 1-1 draw against the Rochester Rhinos Sunday. Rhinos forward Kenardo Forbes gave the league leaders a second half lead that was quickly annulled by an own goal to salvage a point for Richmond on the road.

The road weary Kickers had the first look in the 13th minute when Jared Jeffrey got on the end of throw in on the left wing and switched it to Braeden Troyer on the far side. The Kickers defender whipped a long ball into the box, seeking out Matthew Delicate stationed six yards out but his point blank flick on header was blocked by Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller.

A momentum shift at the half hour mark forced Kickers goalkeeper Travis Worra into action as the Rhinos were twice denied by the woodwork. First, a through ball picked out Forbes on the right side and a missed tackle left him wide open as he charged into the box. He unleashed a blistering shot that Worra tipped against the crossbar but the Rhinos quickly recovered and fed the rebound wide to Forbes again on the right edge of the box. He sliced a cross to the penalty spot where an awaiting Jonny Mendoza turned his mark and fired but Worra came up big with another leaping save.

Mendoza and Forbes combined again minutes later to free Forbes on the right wing and center the ball for a lurking Christian Volesky. He slotted a low shot through traffic, forcing Kickers defender William Yomby to deflect it against the outside of the near post and over the endline.

The Kickers continued to weather the pressure, withstanding four consecutive corner kicks before the Rhinos squandered one last chance before the break. Miller punted a long ball deep into Kickers territory, finding Volesky who split defenders with his back to goal and nodded it to Mendoza who raced into the box and hooked a right-footed shot inches wide of the target.

Picking up where they left off after the break, the Rhinos broke the ice in the 50th minute when Volesky won the ball in the midfield and played it squarely to Alex Dixon who fed it to his right to Forbes. Dribbling towards the box, he took on Kickers defender Uriah Bentick 1v1, turned him and slotted it through traffic back to Dixon at the top of the box. Tangled up by his defender, Dixon lost his footing but still swept the ball under the fray to Forbes who carried it nearly to the endline with just the keeper to beat before burying a laser strike into the far corner.

The home side's celebrations were short-lived however, as an own goal drew the Kickers level two minutes later. The restart was played back to Worra who launched a long ball to Owusu but his leading pass could not connect with Delicate before it was cleared out for a corner. Jeffrey delivered the resulting inswinger into the crowded box where a glancing header by Dixon floated just out of reach for the unsuspecting Miller.

The Rhinos had the chance to avenge their defensive mistake in the 63rd minute when a muddled back pass left Worra warding off a ravenous Mendoza forcing a giveaway that was gathered up by Forbes who tried to chip the open net but his long distance attempt soared skyward.

Later, Rochester midfielder Tony Walls played second half substitute Steven Dos Santos through the defense and into the right corner but Worra threw himself into the line of fire to block the subsequent close range shot at the near post.

With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, the Kickers nearly snuck away with all three points when a fast break counter attack led Yudai Imura off on a parallel run with Owusu through the midfield. Imura played a lateral pass to the swift midfielder who spotted Miller backpedaling towards his line and launched a shot from 40+ yards out that pinged off the crossbar to leave the game knotted a one goal apiece.

The Richmond Kickers conclude a three-game road stand in Toronto on Saturday, August 15 before returning to City Stadium to host Family Fest and Saint Louis FC on Saturday, August 22. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 9, 2015


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