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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Conclude Regular Season with 1-1 Draw in Pittsburgh

August 17, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


PITTSBURGH, PA - The Richmond Kickers concluded the 2013 USL PRO regular season on the road with a 1-1 draw against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Saturday night. A scoreless first half gave way to a pair of second half tallies that occurred in rapid fire succession when Riverhounds forward Jose Angulo buried a 65th minute goal before Kickers midfielder Joseph Ngwenya fired home the equalizer three minutes later to bring the Kickers' record to 15-1-10 and 55 points at the top of the USL PRO table.

The Riverhounds pressed for the icebreaker in the early going, testing the Kickers defense with several distance shots inside the first 20 minutes. The first dangerous chance of the night occurred in the 13th minute when Pittsburgh earned a free kick 30 yards out. A blocked shot ricocheted out to defender Mike Green on the left wing who followed up with a 20 yard blast that glanced just wide of the far post.

Soon after, a heavily marked Mike Seth split two defenders in the penalty area but was forced wide as his shot from a difficult angle sailed harmlessly past the upright. Then, Angulo made a lateral run across the top of the box and fired from 18 yards. His first shot was smothered by a Kickers defender but he quickly collected the rebound and pulled the trigger again, this time dipping the ball just over the crossbar.

The Kickers responded in the 22nd minute with their first shot on goal when midfielder Nate Robinson barreled through the midfield and rocketed a blast from the top of the box but his determined effort whistled just past the left post.

Robinson looked dangerous again just before the break when a long ball was blocked at the top of the box. The rebound fell to the crafty midfielder who one timed a shot that curled just over the crossbar to send the two sides into the locker room goalless.

Still searching for the opening goal after the restart, Angulo received the ball 30 yards out and carried it towards the box in the 51st minute. Stifled by the Kickers defense, his shot fell to midfielder Kevin Kerr who launched a missile strike through traffic, only to see his shot zoom past the target.

Angulo pressed again three minutes later when Matt Dallman beat his mark on the right wing and was off to the races down the sideline. He whipped a well-placed cross into the box where the Riverhounds star striker leapt above his defenders but his misdirected header landed just wide.

The visitors saw their first productive chance of the half collapse in the 60th minute when a fruitless corner kick pinged around the box before popping out to Stanley Nyazamba on the right flank. The Zimbabwean midfielder lobbed the ball back into the mix but could not quite connect with an onrushing Seaton as goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap came out to challenge.

The back and forth affair continued until the Riverhounds took the lead on the counter attack just past the hour mark when Rob Vincent raced down the left wing, deep into Kickers territory. He sliced a cross into the box, finding Angulo at the top of the six yard box and the forward turned his defender and made no mistake on his league-leading 15th goal of the season.

The home side's celebrations were cut short when the Kickers pulled the goal back three minutes later when defender Shane Johnson delivered an outswinging service into the box, connecting with Ngwenya at the back post who tucked a shot into the far upper 90 to level the score.

In the final minutes of regulation, the Kickers nearly stole all three points when Robinson switched the ball from the left wing to the right, finding Ngwenya deep in Riverhounds territory. He slotted the ball back into the box but just missed his target man as forward Matthew Delicate could not reach his cross to take a late lead.

The Richmond Kickers enter postseason play on Saturday, August 24 when they host the USL PRO Quarterfinals at City Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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