USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Rally for 2-2 Draw in Wilmington

Published on March 28, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


WILMINGTON, NC - The Richmond Kickers opened the 2015 campaign with a 2-2 draw on the road against the Wilmington Hammerheads. Rallying from a two goal deficit, the Kickers added a pair of goals on either side of the half, courtesy of Jalen Robinson and Matthew Delicâte, to carry one point into next week's home opener at City Stadium .

Eager for three points on their home pitch, the Hammerheads tested the Kickers early and were immediately rewarded with two goals inside the first 20 minutes.

First, Wilmington forward Will Heaney drew a foul 25 yards out and Ross Tomaselli teed up the resulting free kick. The midfielder delivered a lofted ball to the left post, which fell to an unmarked Troy Cole who rushed into the six yard box and nodded home the first goal of the night from point blank range.

Eight minutes later, Cole intercepted the ball and threaded it through to Nick Zimmerman stationed at the left edge of the box. He played it back to Andrae Campbell at the touchline who floated a cross to the far post where Justin Moose buried a half volley past an outstretched Ryan Taylor.

Wilmington nearly added to their early lead in the 27th minute when Zimmerman latched on to a long ball and exploded on a breakaway. Sprinting into the box, he faced Taylor 1v1 who threw himself into the line of fire to stifle the attack. Collecting the rebound at the right post, Zimmerman struck again but was denied by Kickers defender William Yomby who cleared it off the line.

Momentum shifted at the half hour mark when Kickers defender Luke Mishu raced down the right flank and slotted the ball to George Davis IV who laid it off for Jason Yeisley at the top of the box. Yeisley played the ball back to Owusu Sekyere who fired from 25 yards out but Hammerheads goalkeeper Larry Jackson tipped it over the crossbar.

With less than five minutes remaining in the first half, Mishu launched a long throw in into a swarming box, connecting with Delicâte. Wilmington missed the clearance on the forward's flicked header as the loose ball fell to Robinson who lunged to the top of the box and calmly tucked the ball past the diving keeper.

Fighting for the equalizer before the break, defender Stephen Basso served a long ball to Jason Yeisley who battled Wilmington defender Anthony Peters to the endline before slotting it back to Delicâte posted at the top of the six yard box. The Kickers all-time leading scorer turned and fired a curling blast that caromed off the left upright.

Picking up where he left off, Delicâte was not to be denied a second time, leveling the score in the 55th minute. After peppering the Wilmington goal and earning a pair of unproductive corners, midfielder Mike Callahan lasered a shot from distance that rattled the crossbar before falling to Delicâte at the right post who headed in the game-tying goal.

Wilmington responded five minutes later when Zimmerman earned a free kick inches from the 18 yard box. Tomaselli could not capitalize on the opportunity as his right-footed shot bent around the defensive wall but Taylor was on his line and nabbed the ball from midair.

Later, Mishu launched the ball up the field, finding Samuel Asante on the right wing. Splitting defenders, the heavily marked midfielder laid the ball off to Owusu whose onrushing strike curled towards the far upper 90 but glanced just wide.

In a final effort to steal all three points, the Hammerheads exhausted one final chance in stoppage time when Moose intercepted the ball on the right wing. Deep in Kickers territory, he whipped a deflected cross into the box, earning a corner on the clearance. Tomaselli's inswinging ball bounced around the box before finding Nicholson 16 yards out but his shot dipped just over the crossbar to settle for the draw.

The Kickers return to City Stadium next Saturday, April 4 to host Louisville City FC in the regular season home opener at 5:00 p.m. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with live music from The Trillions, craft beer on tap, RVA food trucks and Woodfin replica jersey t-shirts for the first 500 fans. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 28, 2015


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