USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Drop Home Opener to Indy Eleven

Published on March 24, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Kickers (0-2-0) fell in their Home Opener to USL newcomers Indy Eleven (1-0-0) in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. Jack McInerney scored the only goal of the match for the visitors in the 42nd minute.

Giuseppe Gentile created the first chance of the match in the 24th minute. At midfield, Raul Gonzalez played the ball back to Braeden Troyer inside the center circle. He went for the long ball with Starikov putting the pressure on. Gentile was able to get on the ball and took a touch around Owain Fôn Williams. As he went for the shot, he mishit the ball sending it wide of the goal.

Yudai Imura found himself with a chance on goal at the top of the Indy box in the 36th minute. From a throw in on the right side, Gentile quickly threw in the ball to Neil Hlavaty, wearing the captain's armband for the Kickers tonight. Hlavaty connected with Imura just ahead of him. With his space cut down in front of him, Imura turned and ran across the top of the box going for a shot from just to the right of the goal. The shot was deflected down as Koby Osei-Wusu tries to get on the ball. Reiner Ferreira stepped in and got a touch on the ball to play it out for a corner before Osei-Wusu could control it.

The first goal for Indy Eleven in the USL came from Jack McInerney in the 42nd minute to give the visitors the first half lead. Controlling the ball near the right sideline, Karl Ouimette played the ball up to Soony Saad as he made a run towards the endline. Under pressure from Troyer, Saad put in a quick cross into the far post. McInerney timed his run perfectly, beating Raul Gonzalez to the ball and finding the back of the net for the opener.

The best chance for the Kickers came in the 68th minute from Gentile. Coming on just four minutes prior, Matt Bolduc was able to gain control of the ball in the midfield and saw Gentile ready to make a run. Bolduc fed the ball through for Gentile as he slipped through the Indy backline. As he reached the top of the box, Gentile went for a shot that Fôn Williams needed to save to keep Richmond off the board.

A near chance came for Richmond in the 88th minute from a ball played in from Gonzalez. Finnlay Wyatt played the ball out wide right. He looked for Gentile in front of goal with a cross in. Ferreira was able to get a slight touch to the ball to knock it down for Fôn Williams to pick up before Gentile could get to the ball.

Richmond were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time after a straight red card was issued to Fred Owusu Sekyere.

The Kickers will be back at City Stadium next Saturday, March 31 night as they host North Carolina FC at 5:00 p.m. Gates will open at 3:30 with live music, RVA food trucks and craft beer on tap. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

BOX SCORE

First Half Second Half Final

Richmond 0 0 0

Indy 1 0 1

LINEUPS

Richmond GK Travis Worra, Scott Thomsen, Braeden Troyer, Conor Shanosky, Raul Gonzalez, Neil Hlavaty (63' - Matt Bolduc), Oscar Umar, Brian Shriver (63' ?" Fred Owusu Sekyere), Yudai Imura (87' - Finnlay Wyatt), Giuseppe Gentile, Koby Osei-Wusu

Unused Substitutes: Trevor Spangenberg, William Yomby, Finnlay Wyatt, Evan Lee, Heviel Cordovés

Indy GK Owain Fôn Williams, Tyler Pasher, Reiner Ferreira, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette, Nico Matern (82' - Brad Ring), Matt Watson, Zach Steinberger, Eugene Starikov (72' - Juan Guerra), Soony Saad, Jack McInerney (90' - Justin Braun)

Unused Substitutes: Ben Lundgaard, Seth Moses, Brad Rusin, Ben Speas

STATISTICS

Shots Saves Fouls Corners

Richmond 6 1 13 4

Indy 10 2 13 4

SCORING SUMMARY

41' IND Jack McInerney (Soony Saad)

CAUTIONS SUMMARY

60' IND Nico Matern

68' IND Zach Steinberger

88' RIC Fred Owusu Sekyere

90' IND Reiner Ferreira

EJECTIONS SUMMARY

90' RIC Fred Owusu Sekyere

MATCH INFORMATION

Referee: Matthew Franz

Assistant Referees: Ben Pilgrim, Benjamin Hichak

Fourth Official: Neil Morrissette

Attendance: 4756

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 50 ºF

Check out the Richmond Kickers Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 24, 2018


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