USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Battle Wilmington to Scoreless Draw; Match Abandoned After First Half

June 20, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Kickers battled the Wilmington Hammerheads to a scoreless draw Saturday night, in a match cut short by violent thunderstorms and abandoned following the 45th minute.

Earning eight corner kicks inside the first half hour, the Hammerheads tested Kickers goalkeeper Travis Worra early and often, seeing their best chance parried away in the 24th minute. Forward Chris Bassogog battled Alex Lee in the air on the left wing before drawing a foul 25 yards out. Midfielder Corben Bone launched a curling right footed blast to the far upper 90 but Worra tipped it just over the crossbar.

Weathering three subsequent corners and a dangerous throw in deep on the left side, the Kickers retaliated in the 28th minute when Lee intercepted the ball at the right touchline and slotted it through to Matthew Delicate in the midfield. The Kickers forward played a short pass back to Fred Owusu Sekyere who served a long ball to George Davis IV on the left flank. Racing to the top of the box, he sliced a low driven shot to the near post but was stifled by Wilmington goalkeeper Keith Cardona.

The Kickers nearly broke the ice with five minutes remaining in the half when Delicate knocked his defender off the ball and sprinted towards the box. Heavily marked, he squared the ball for an onrushing Michael Callahan who rounded the defense on the right side and fired a sliding shot that ricocheted off the keeper and seemed destined for the wide open far corner, only to be denied by Hammerheads defender Fran Martinez who cleared it off the line.

Seconds after the halftime whistle, the extreme heat and humidity that plagued City Stadium in the first half gave way to lighting, torrential rain and gale force winds, forcing league officials to call the game.

The Richmond Kickers embark on a three-game road stand before returning to City Stadium to host the English Premier League's West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, July 19. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 20, 2015


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