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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Travel to Charlotte Friday

June 24, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - (Wednesday, June 24, 2015) - The Richmond Kickers (6-2-7, 25 points) travel to take on the Charlotte Independence (4-4-3, 15 points) this Friday, June 26. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., broadcast live from Ramblewood Soccer Stadium on YouTube.com/RichmondKickers.

The Kickers and the Independence meet for the fourth and final time this season, having last met at City Stadium earlier this month when Jason Yeisley led the home side to a 2-1 victory with a goal and an assist. Yeisley made an acrobatic finish to put the Kickers up 1-0 in the third minute, and then set up Matthew Delicate for his sixth goal of the season as Richmond took a two-goal lead inside the opening 25 minutes. Charlotte forward Jorge Herrera pulled a goal back just past the hour mark but the Kickers weathered late pressure to claim the full three points.

Previously, the two clubs split home and home 3-0 victories to start the 2015 campaign, first facing off at City Stadium in April when Kickers midfielder George Davis IV earned his first career hat trick, burying a laser strike into the upper 90 and converting a pair of penalties on either side of the half. Goalkeeper Ryan Taylor also made history when he posted his first professional shutout, withstanding 10 shots on the night including a flurry of heroic saves in the final five minutes, to preserve his clean sheet.

Swapping home field advantage in May, the Kickers were upended when the expansion franchise avenged the earlier season loss and snapped the visitors' unbeaten streak. Left short-handed when Alex Lee was ejected in the 40th minute, the Kickers conceded three unanswered goals when Ryan Finley and Marlon Hairston each posted a goal and an assist to bookend a Patrick Slogic tally.

The Kickers enter Friday's match following a scoreless draw with the Wilmington Hammerheads last week. The game was cut short by violent thunderstorms and terminated following the 45th minute.

Meanwhile, the Independence are coming off back-to-back 2-1 wins, most recently edging the Charleston Battery at Ramblewood Stadium. Finley gave Charlotte a first half lead but Charleston leveled the score eight minutes after the break, only to concede a 90th minute last-gasp game winner when Herrera combined with Tomasz Zahorski to stun the visitors.

Following Friday's game, the Kickers continue their three-game road stand in Louisville City FC and Saint Louis FC before returning to City Stadium to host the English Premier League's West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, July 19. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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