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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Marred by Three Goals in Tampa

September 22, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Richmond Kickers (6-20-4) suffered defeated on the road to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (11-12-7) Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium. Hunter Gorskie put the home side up in the 49th minute. Jaime Chavez doubled the Tampa Bay lead in the 57th minute. Deep into stoppage time, Junior Flemmings added a third for the Rowdies.

The Rowdies looked to go ahead after seven minutes. Afrim Taku made a run up the right sideline, sending a cross into the box. Jaime Chavez had a nifty touch to leave it for Georgi Hristov. He put it in the back of the net as the linesman had his flag up to signal Chavez's touch offside.

A minute later, Kwadwo Poku had a chance from outside the box. Chavez pounced on a loose ball from a misplayed pass by Mekeil Williams, and took a touch to get it for Poku. He went for a shot towards goal, sending his effort curling over the goal.

Brandon Barnes made his first save of the match in the 20th minute. Leo Fernandes received the ball on the right flank and turned to go up the sideline. He played a quick pass for Martin Vingaard at the top of the Kickers box. Conor Shanosky came in to make the stop, but it was Vingaard who picked back up control of the ball. He quickly turned and tried to sneak in a shot at the near post, right as Barnes dove for the save.

Afrim Taku had a chance on goal in the 27th minute. Leo Fernandes sent the ball across the top of the Richmond box for Poku. He continued the ball to the right side for Taku. He was able to get enough space around Scott Thomsen for a shot towards goal as Brandon Barnes is there to make the stop as Jaime Chavez is there to try for a shot.

The biggest save of the first half came in the 30th minute. Kwadwo Poku found himself on a break from inside the Rowdies end of the pitch, getting by several Kickers defenders. He went one on one with Brandon Barnes, with the Kickers keeper getting the best of the moment and coming up with the big stop.

The Rowdies broke the deadlock in the 49th minute through Hunter Gorskie. Off a corner kick from Jaime Chavez, Georgi Hristov picked up the short corner on the left side and made a run to the end line and whipped in a quick near post pass to Gorksie, who just redirected the ball into the back of the net for the opener.

Oscar Umar looked to try and level the score two minutes later. Brian Shriver was battling to create chance and had his pass deflected away towards the center circle. Umar came in to collect the loose ball and continued his run to goal. With no defender coming up, Umar went for a shot from about 35 yards out. Daniel Vega had a clear look at the shot and was able to come up with the save.

Jaime Chavez doubled the lead for the Rowdies in the 57th minute. Martin Vingaard slid in to win the ball from Oscar Umar in the center of the field. Afrim Taku ran on to the ball and fed it through to Chavez as he made a run towards goal. He sent his shot to the right of Brandon Barnes for the second of the night.

The Kickers had a couple chances to get back into the match in the 73rd minute. Mekeil Williams played in a cross from the right flank and picked out Heviel Cordovés. He played the ball across the goal as Brian Shriver looked to get on it at the back post. Hunter Gorskie beat him to the ball and tried to clear it away, but it only went as far as Scott Thomsen. He quickly squared a pass to Giuseppe Gentile at the penalty spot, who just looked to take a shot on goal that fell right to Daniel Vega.

Seven minutes later, Heviel Cordovés had a chance after a perfect ball from Brian Shriver. Conor Shanosky got the play started out of the back to get the ball to Shriver deep in Richmond territory. He looked up to see Cordovés ready for a run, and then sent a cheeky through ball up the field for Cordovés. He tried to sneak the ball in the near post as Vega is there to make the save.

Scott Thomsen nearly found the back of the net in the 83rd minute. Mekeil Williams floated in a cross from the right side. Brian Shriver leaped to try to get on the ball, as Daniel Vega came out to punch the ball away. The ball fell to Scott Thomsen, who tried to take advantage of Vega out of goal. His shot looked to go to the far post. Abdoulaye Diakité got there in time to head the ball off the line.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Brian Shriver went for a long range chance. From a throw in, Greg Boehme shook off two Rowdies defenders and got the ball to Shriver. He turned towards goal and went for the shot. Vega jumped to catch the chance.

Junior Flemmings found the back of the net for a third time for the Rowdies deep into stoppage time. Joe Cole received the ball near the midfield line. He found Flemmings in space on the left flank and chipped the ball up for him. Flemmings made a run up the field and cut in towards the goal trying to get around Mallan Roberts. His shot rocketed past Brandon Barnes, despite his effort to dive and make the stop.

The Kickers return to City Stadium to host the Eastern Conference leading FC Cincinnati and Cider Fest. The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. with live music, RVA food trucks, and Happy Hour specials on over 20 ciders and craft beers. Kickoff for the game is at 7:00 p.m. This match is the USL Game of the Week and will stream online on ESPN3 and will be available locally on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466). Tickets for the FC Cincinnati match are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

BOX SCORE

First Half Second Half Final

Tampa Bay 0 3 3

Richmond 0 0 0

LINEUPS

Tampa Bay GK Daniel Vega, Hunter Gorskie, Abdoulaye Diakité, Tarek Morad, Dominic Oduro, Afrim Taku, Kwadwo Poku (65' - Joe Cole), Martin Vingaard, Leo Fernandes, Jaime Chávez (83' - Lance Rozeboom), Georgi Hristov (70' - Junior Flemmings)

Unused Substitutes: Akira Fitzgerald, Zachary Portillos, Alex Morrell, Sebastián Guenzatti

Richmond GK Brandon Barnes, Mallan Roberts, Conor Shanosky, Mekeil Williams, Scott Thomsen, Price Agyemang (60' - Greg Boehme), Neil Hlavaty (60' - Yudai Imura), Oscar Umar, Brian Shriver, Raul Gonzalez (68' - Heviel Cordovés), Giuseppe Gentile

Unused Substitutes: Trevor Spangenberg, Brandon Eaton, Matt Bolduc, Koby Osei-Wusu

STATISTICS

Shots Saves Fouls Corners

Tampa Bay 17 4 7 1

Richmond 7 3 12 5

SCORING SUMMARY

49' TBR Hunter Gorskie (Georgi Hristov)

57' TBR Jaime Chavez (Afrim Taku)

90' TBR Junior Flemmings (Joe Cole)

CAUTIONS SUMMARY

9' RIC Oscar Umar

18' RIC Neil Hlavaty

58' TBR Jaime Chavez

87' RIC Mekeil Williams

EJECTIONS SUMMARY

None.

MATCH INFORMATION

Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Assistant Referees: Madzid Coric, Jamie Wells

Fourth Official: Andres Vidales

Attendance: 6,472

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 85 ºF

Please call 804-644-5425 ext. 316 for more information.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 22, 2018


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