USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Defeat Harrisburg 2-0

May 24, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Kickers remain undefeated on the season after recording a 2-0 win over the Harrisburg City Islanders Friday night. Kickers goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra posted nine saves to preserve his third shutout of the season while goals by forward Michael Seaton and midfielder Nate Robinson allowed the Kickers to leapfrog the City Islanders in the USL PRO standings.

With a valuable three points on the line, Harrisburg fired directly out of the gates, earning a corner inside the first 10 minutes. Midfielder Chris Hernandez delivered an inswinger towards the far post where Coady Andrews won the ball in the air but his nod rattled the upright and then ricocheted off Dykstra, bouncing directly in front of the goal. Aaron Wheeler got a touch on the ball to put it back on frame but Kickers midfielder Mike Callahan cleared it off the line.

After weathering early offensive pressure, the Kickers saw their first chance of the night stifled by Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble in the 25th minute. Defender William Yomby played a long ball to Ownby who beat the defense to the penalty area. Standing up his mark, he fired a rocket on target but the well-positioned 'keeper blocked the determined shot.

Reacting quickly, the City Islanders nearly broke the ice on the counter attack when Harrisburg forward Sainey Touray received the ball in the box, settled it and launched a strike on frame but Dykstra sprung into action to tip it over the woodwork.

Minutes later, Kickers midfielder Joseph Ngwenya won the ball in the midfield and played it to an unmarked Stanley Nyazamba on the right flank, who fed it to an onrushing Luke Vercollone at the touchline. Under pressure, the Kickers workhorse split a pair of defenders and whipped the ball into the box, finding Seaton in the air but the 17-year old's header dipped just over the crossbar.

The back and forth affair continued in the 37th minute when Harrisburg midfielder Yann Ekra steamrolled through the Kickers defense into the box and sliced a dangerous cross to Touray at the far post but his one-time volley soared skyward.

Just prior to the halftime break, Robinson battled for the ball on the left side of the box and wound up a powerful shot but the opportunity to break the deadlock was spoiled by a well-positioned Noble who sent both teams into the locker room scoreless.

Noble picked up where he left off following the restart when Ownby was off to the races down the left channel. The midfielder played the ball across the goalmouth to Seaton who one-timed it from point blank range but the stalwart goalkeeper dove to his right to wrap it around the post.

The Kickers' persistence paid off just past the hour mark when Nyazamba scooped up a loose ball in the midfield and played it back to Callahan who fed it through to Ngwenya 20 yards out. The Zimbabwean international served a square pass to Robinson on the right wing who eluded his defender and tucked a low driven ball into the far left corner for his first professional goal.

Ownby and Seaton teamed up again six minutes later, when Robinson delivered a long ball to Ownby at the left edge of the box. As Noble came off his line to challenge, Ownby centered a last-minute cross for Seaton who calmly tapped home the Kickers' second goal of the night.

The City Islanders looked to pull a goal back in the 73rd minute when Ekra played second half substitute Lucky Mkosona into the box. With his first touch of the night, he sent a back-heel pass to Ekra who had the upper 90 locked in his sights but Dykstra leapt to touch the ball over the crossbar.

With seconds remaining in regulation, Dykstra was integral once again when he distributed the ball out to the midfield, finding Ngwenya who flew down the right wing and played a cross to the far post. An onrushing Matthew Delicâte made his best effort to get into position but the pass was inches out of his reach and his attempt glanced just wide of the upright.

The Richmond Kickers return to City Stadium to host D.C. United in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup next Tuesday, May 28. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15, youth and adult, and are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 24, 2013


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