Kickers Make Defensive Statement, Holding NCFC to One Goal in USL Cup Match
June 1, 2025 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Richmond Kickers News Release
The Richmond Kickers (3-4-4, 13 pts, 0-2-0) put on a strong defensive performance throughout the night but ultimately fell 0-1 to NCFC in the second round of USL Jagermeister Cup play.
The Kickers controlled most of the match, pushing to score well into the last minute but got unlucky on an NCFC header late in the match that floated just out of Pablo Jara's reach.
Tonight, Richmond fielded six home grown players, four of them starting and four of them coming up through the established Academy system here in Richmond. The youngest of the players to take the pitch tonight, Andrew Richman, earned his second career appearance and his first appearance at City Stadium. Beckett Howell made his first home start of the season as well.
Attacking early, Richmond earned a free kick from just outside the box in the fifteenth minute. Pressuring the NC defense that tried to clear but Matt Bolduc won the ball back and forced a corner. The corner flew into the box from Nils Seufert and just barely didn't connect. Ultimately, Carolina would clear.
NCFC would try to push three times in the middle of the half but the defense held through.
In first half stoppage time, the Kickers pushed til the end of the half, knocking consistently on the NCFC door. A strike from Richmond seemed to hit the arm of an NCFC defender in the box but the half ended without a call.
North Carolina attempted to push immediately in the first half, earning a corner kick attempt. On the cross in, Jara dove to keep header from connecting. Jara made several saves on the night to keep NCFC out.
Ten minutes later, the Kickers attack put pressure on Carolina's defense. James Vaughan ripped a shot from well outside the box that NCFC's keeper knocked just to the right outside.
North Carolina looked to counter but Jara made a one-on-one save to keep NCFC off the board. The second half went back and forth from then on.
Dakota Barnathan won the ball a few minutes later, he found Seufert who found Darwin, and then Darwin struck from his usual spot outside the box but the attempt flew just high.
Jara went up one-on-one with an NCFC attacker in the 65th and claimed the ball making another save on the night. A short minute later, Bolduc sent a through ball to Josh Kirkland that the defense cleared back to Bolduc. He laterally crossed the pitch and passed to Darwin who found Simon out wide. Simon crossed into the box to Kirky who headed it but was pushed over so the ball went a little off target. Darwin sent another in but a mess of bodies won a foul for NCFC.
NCFC found a goal in the 82nd but the Kickers kept pushing.
To answer, Hayden Anderson, Landon Johnson and Andrew Richman stepped onto the pitch to energize the Richmond attack further. Richman's first home appearance for the side helped to build the rising attack. In second half stoppage time, a promising attack set up a shot from Darwin that the NCFC keeper barely kept from hitting the back of the net.
United Soccer League One Stories from June 1, 2025
- Kickers Make Defensive Statement, Holding NCFC to One Goal in USL Cup Match - Richmond Kickers
- Chattanooga Defeats Madison with Grit, Goals, and PK Brilliance - Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
- Tormenta FC Falls Late to Tampa Bay Rowdies in Jägermeister Cup - South Georgia Tormenta FC
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