USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Battle VSI Tampa Bay to Scoreless Draw

Published on June 30, 2013 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


PLANT CITY, FL - The Richmond Kickers concluded a grueling back-to-back Florida road trip with a scoreless draw against USL PRO expansion VSI Tampa Bay FC Sunday night. Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra posted six saves to preserve his second shutout in as many matches on the weekend to keep the Kickers undefeated through the 2013 regular season and move his side within two points of Orlando City at the top of the league standings.

Although the game opened evenly with stalwart defensive units shutting down early chances on both sides of the rain-soaked pitch, Tampa nearly took the lead 30 minutes in when a long ball sprung Sallieu Bundu free. Keeping the ball at his feet, he beat his mark and rounded the 'keeper, but Kickers defenders swooped in to deny his chance at the near post.

Quick on the counter, the Kickers responded when a midfield possession battle resulted in a distance volley from forward Michael Seaton, but the 17-year old's laser strike bounded just past the left upright to keep the match deadlocked heading into halftime.

Tampa pressed for the icebreaker directly after the restart, forcing Dykstra into action several times before the hour mark. First, Alex Frietas received a long ball on the right flank and carried it to the endline before whipping a dangerous cross to the back post where Darren Toby was on hand to direct a downward header that was snapped up by the Kickers seasoned goalkeeper in the 48th minute. Later, a striding Richard Dixon raced down the left channel, creating short, quick passes through the midfield before the ball settled with Sebastian Thuriere at the top of the box. The VSI midfielder drove a low ball to the left post but Dykstra reached to push it over the endline in the 55th minute.

Dykstra was called upon again four minutes later, this time when a poor clearance fell to an onrushing Bundu who volleyed the ball from the top of the 18, only to be thwarted by a lunging 6'4" goalkeeper who threw his body into the line of fire to deny the speedy forward. Then, a lightning reaction save off the line saved the day once more when Dykstra rebuffed a lurking Tony Donatelli from the penalty spot, who got on the end of a whizzing J.T. Noone cross in the 61st mintue.

Weathering the barrage of threatening chances, the Kickers attempted to turn the tables in the 66th minute when defender Sascha Gorres served the ball into the box, finding midfielder Brian Ownby but the target man's header flicked off the top of the crossbar.

The Kickers were dangerous in the air again in the 74th minute, this time when defender William Yomby got a nod on an inswinging corner from the right side but his attempt from point blank range was tipped over the bar by Tampa goalkeeper Alex Horwarth.

As the final minutes of regulation approached, second half substitute Douglas Dos Santos held off two defenders deep on the right wing, battling to the endline where he cut the ball back from a difficult angle, only to see his effort knick the near post as it was deflected wide as both teams settled for a point.

The Kickers continue their month-long road swing next Saturday, July 6 when they take on the Dayton Dutch Lions live from Beavercreek High School Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on USLnation.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 30, 2013


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