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Richmond Kickers

Kickers Battle La Blues to 0-0 Draw

August 13, 2011 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


LOS ANGELES, CA - The Richmond Kickers (12-7-4, 40 points) battled the Los Angeles Blues (8-7-8, 32 points) to a scoreless draw Friday night at Cal State Fullerton. Despite going a man-down late in the match, Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale preserved his third shutout in as many games as the Kickers moved within two points of second place Wilmington in the American Division standings.

Richmond applied pressure early in the game, disrupting the Blues possession-oriented build up and tested goalkeeper Oscar Dautt in the 10th minute. A determined cross from the left flank missed the outstretched feet of Kickers forward Matthew Delicate, inches from the far post.

Then, in the 30th minute, midfielder Stanley Nyazamba received the ball after a corner inside the box. Eluding two defenders, his left-footed curler whistled just over the crossbar.

The Blues opportunities came from long-range shots, with Israel Sesay leading the charge from distance, but their efforts were no match for the Kickers veteran goalkeeper.

A more offensive lineup for Richmond opened the second half, as the visitors attempted to keep their hopes of hosting the first round of the playoffs alive, with the substitutions of David Bulow, and later, Shaka Bangura sparking the Kickers attack.

The pair first teamed up after the restart when Bangura fed a long cross from the right wing, finding Bulow wide open on the far post, but the striker's volley dipped over the woodwork, as the match remained deadlocked.

Soon after, the game opened up and Los Angeles was able to create a dangerous scoring opportunity. Josh Tudela sliced the ball through the defense, playing midfielder Peter Byers beyond the Kickers stalwart back line, but Pascale challenged quickly and was able to clear it from harm's way.

With the final minutes dwindling, Richmond was forced to digest a sudden red card ejection when midfielder Ross MacKenzie was sent off for a rash tackle in the 86th minute. Reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the match, the Kickers continued to press forward and created one last chance minutes from the final whistle.

In a last minute attempted to break the ice, Bangura and Bulow joined forces once again. A streaking Bangura cruised down the left wing and played the ball to a well-positioned Bulow at the far post. Ten yards from the target, he took one touch but his right-footed missile soared skyward.

The Kickers await the result of Saturday's match-up between Wilmington and Dayton to determine the final postseason positioning in the American Division standings before closing out the USL PRO season with a re-match against the LA Blues Sunday, August 14. The USL PRO finale will be broadcast on USLLive.com from Norco College at 8:00 p.m.

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