USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Secure Home Playoff Game with 1-0 Win in Charlotte

August 2, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - The Richmond Kickers clinched a berth to the playoffs and secured a guaranteed home game in the first round with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Charlotte Eagles Friday night. Midfielder Joseph Ngwenya netted the lone goal while goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra posted his league-leading ninth shutout to extend the Kickers unbeaten streak to 22 regular season games, 24 overall.

After spending the first 10 minutes in their own defensive third, the Eagles came up with the first dangerous chance of the night when they drew a free kick 30 yards out. Midfielder Sam Asante wound up and rifled a determined shot that whistled just past the left post.

The Kickers retaliated six minutes later when midfielder Nate Robinson received the ball at the top of the box on the left side, launching a left footed strike that was deflected just wide. The Kickers midfielder whipped in the resulting corner kick but Eagles goalkeeper Eric Reed leapt to snatch the ball from midair.

Later, the Eagles saw a scoring opportunity fall by the wayside when Asante and Christian Meza teamed up for a combination in the midfield that landed at the feet of Jorge Herrera. The speedy forward blasted a low driven distance shot that whizzed just past the upright in the 27th minute.

The visitors answered back two minutes later when Robinson served an outswinging corner kick into the box from the right side, finding an airborne William Yomby 12 yards out but the big defender misdirected his nod wide of the target to keep the match scoreless into halftime.

Looking to defend their undefeated streak, the Kickers pressed forward after the restart when midfielder Juan Arbelaez won the ball on the right wing and raced down the touchline with lightning pace. Carrying the ball to the end line, he slotted a cross through to Stanley Nyazamba at the back post but Reed leapt to tip his header over the woodwork.

Reed was called into action again in the 53rd minute when a missed clearance fell to Robinson 35 yards out. The Kickers playmaker detonated a rocket from distance that forced the Eagles stalwart goalkeeper to punch the ball from harm's way.

Soon after, a giveaway in Kickers territory made its way down the field, finding midfielder Stephen Okai who played the ball wide to Herrera deep on the right wing. The Eagles midfielder sliced a low cross to Meza in the penalty area but he hooked his shot into side netting.

Searching for the icebreaker in the 68th minute, Robinson carried the ball to the right edge of the box and played it wide to Alex Lee who delivered a cross to Ngwenya, but Reed came off his line to strip the ball at the back post.

The trio was not to be denied, however, four minutes later when Lee played the ball back from the corner to Robinson on the right flank, who lofted a cross into the crowded box and Ngwenya reached to head the lone goal of the night just under the crossbar.

The Eagles fought for the equalizer with less than 10 minutes to spare when Herrera gathered the ball in the midfield and fed a through ball to Tommy Smith. The second half substitute blasted a low shot from the top of the box that soared harmlessly wide of the far post to send the Kickers on the road with a full three points.

The Richmond Kickers continue south to take on the Charleston Battery in 24 hours on Saturday, August 3. The match will be broadcast live from Blackbaud Stadium on USLnation.com at 7:30 p.m. The Kickers return to City Stadium one week later to host the Dayton Dutch Lions and FAMILY FEST, presented by Chick-Fil-A, on Saturday, August 10. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 2, 2013


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