USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Rally to 1-1 Draw in Pittsburgh

Published on May 18, 2012 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


PITTSBURGH, PA - The Richmond Kickers posted their fourth consecutive draw Friday night, battling the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a 1-1 draw. T he Riverhounds broke the ice seconds before halftime when forward Ricky Smith connected on a pass from Anthony Calvano. A series of chances in the second half led to the equalizer when Matthew Delicate buried his second goal in as many games.

The first half opened with a barrage of changes inside the first 10 minutes, with the Kickers testing Pittsburgh goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap in the third minute. A nice combination at the edge of the box saw Edson Elcock steal the ball and feed it wide to Christopher Agorsor. The newcomer swung a cross into the mix from the right side, finding Elcock in the air at the penalty spot but his close range header dipped inches over the crossbar.

The Riverhounds retaliated one minute later when midfielder Shintaro Harada received the ball 20 yards out and unleashed a rocket, but was stopped short by Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale's reaction save.

The back and forth affair continued within the next 30 seconds when Elcock carried the ball into the box and played it back to Ryan Heins perched 20 yards out. The midfielder one-timed a swift strike that was tipped over the target by the Riverhounds quick-thinking goalkeeper.

Following the early-going excitement, the two clubs settled in the midfield until the 31st minute when Riverhounds midfielder Stefan Lundberg was off to the races on a breakaway down the left wing. Pascale came out of his box to challenge but his harsh tackle earned a caution, leaving the Riverhounds with a free kick in dangerous territory. Midfielder Matt Kassel lined up the resulting free kick at the edge of the box but his attempt was blocked by the Kickers defensive wall.

The visitors answered back soon after when Agorsor took on two defenders on the left side of the box and fed the ball through traffic to Gerson dos Santos at the top of the box. The Brazilian midfielder slotted it to Elcock but his low driven ball was smothered by Gilstrap.

Despite controlling the run of play for the majority of the half, it was the Kickers that conceded first when the Riverhounds took the lead seconds before the break. Defender Anthony Calvano played a long ball to an onrushing Smith who beat his mark and blasted the ball from a difficult angle to the near post to give the home side the advantage.

The Riverhounds carried the momentum into the second half and looked to double the score in the 55th minute when second half substitute Darren Amoo delivered a cross into the mix, finding Kassel at the top of the box. He settled the ball with his first touch and struck with his second but Pascale was on his line and made a leaping save to his left to push the ball wide.

The Kickers responded four minutes later when defender Sascha G�rres played a ball from the midfield, finding his target in the box but David Bulow's header glanced just wide of the near post.

Increasing the pressure in Riverhounds territory, the Kickers saw a goal annulled in the 66th minute when this time, a G�rres' lofted ball found Delicate in the air but his open header was called offside.

The Kickers star striker was not to be denied again five minutes later when a poor defensive clearance allowed the resident hitman to nod home the equalizer from point blank range.

With the game level at one apiece, the Kickers searched for the game-changer with high pressure in the final minutes of regulation, knocking on Pittsburgh's doorstep three times in a span of three minutes but the Riverhounds solid defense sent them back to Richmond with just one point.

The Richmond Kickers face the Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association in the Second Round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 22. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland. Should the Kickers advance past the Hawks, they will host D.C. United of Major League Soccer on Tuesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. The Kickers return to regular season action next Saturday, May 26 when they host the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7 p.m. at Richmond City Stadium.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 18, 2012


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