Steel FC Offense Awakens in Victory over Richmond
May 6, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Philadelphia Union II News Release
Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder Santi Moar vs. the Richmond Kickers
(Philadelphia Union II)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Playing in the pouring rain, Bethlehem Steel FC battled back from a first-half deficit to defeat the Richmond Kickers, 3-1, at Goodman Stadium on the campus of Lehigh University.
After surrendering a goal on the Kickers' only shot on target in the 15th minute of play, Steel FC's offense emerged as Santi Moar turned in a three-point performance to propel the club to its second victory of the season. Philadelphia Union defender Matt Real tallied his first goal of 2018 thanks to Moar's creativity in the first half while Moar and Nanco struck for goals in the final 45 minutes.
"Very happy with that performance, it could have been five or six and maybe even seven on a different day," Bethlehem Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke said. "We had 29 shots, 17 from inside their box and that was thorough. I'm upset for the boys that they didn't get to celebrate a little bit more often during the game. They did everything we asked them to do. We've been performing that way so it's good for that to translate into a result." Steel FC came out hungry in the opening minutes but was denied by the post in the third minute as Adam Najem's header rang off the post. After a Richmond injury forced forward Heviel Cordoves to enter the match, he made an instant impact scoring in the 15th minute off a pass from Austin Yearwood.
The hosts continued to press forward in search of a tying goal and wouldn't surrender after the crossbar denied Najem once more in the 27th minute. Two minutes later, the persistence paid off as Moar cut inside to lose his defender before laying it off for a trailing Real. The 18-year-old former Steel FC signing wasted little time, firing a right-footed shot inside the far post for the second professional goal of his career.
Steel FC kept its foot on the gas in the second half, outshooting the Kickers by an 18-4 margin. The squad gained the lead for good in the 68th minute off a quick restart. After earning a corner kick, Najem quickly found Moar at the edge of the Richmond box, which the 23-year-old quickly dribbled to his right before firing a shot through the defense and inside the far post.
Rookie forward Aidan Apodaca made an impact on the contest as a substitute in the waning moments, as he was taken down inside the box on a breakaway chance in the 82nd minute. Fellow substitute Chris Nanco converted from the spot for his first tally of 2018.
After the contest, Burke was pleased with his group's mentality to not give up despite the unfortunate chances.
"We hit the crossbar maybe two or three times in the first half and there were shots being blocked inside the box and we just told the guys to keep at it," Burke said. "You can't change a thing and you have to stay positive and don't just settle for one more. If you get one more, go for two more or even three and there probably could have been four in that second half. A thorough performance, I'm happy for them but now we have to do it on the road and against bigger teams. It at least gives us a chance to catch our breath."
Steel FC begins one of its busiest stretches of play next weekend, with a three-games in seven-day span kicking off in Charleston on Saturday, May 12. Following the contest, Steel FC will return home for a clash against rivals New York Red Bulls II on Wednesday before hitting the road against for an inaugural matchup against Indy Eleven on Saturday, May 19. Kick off from MUSC Health Stadium in Charleston is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
MATCH RECAP
Bethlehem Steel FC 3, Richmond Kickers 1
Goodman Stadium
Bethlehem, PA
MATCH STATS
Shots: 30-7 (Bethlehem)
Shots On Goal: 10-1 (Bethlehem)
Corners: 5-4 (Richmond)
Saves: 6-0 (Richmond)
SCORING SUMMARY
RIC - 16'
Heviel Cordoves (Austin Yearwood)
BST - 29' Matt Real (Santi Moar)
BST - 68' Santi Moar (Adam Najem)
BST - 83' Chris Nanco (PK)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
RIC - 36'
Heviel Cordoves (Yellow Card)
RIC - 72' Austin Yearwood (Yellow Card)
BST - 72' Drew Skundrich (Yellow Card)
RIC - 79' Oscar Umar (Yellow Card)
BETHLEHEM STEEL FC STARTING XI
Jake McGuire; Matt Real, Brandon Aubrey, Matthew Mahoney, Olivier Mbaizo; Derrick Jones Drew Skundrich; Santi Moar (Michee Ngalina 85'), Adam Najem, Fabian Herbers (Chris Nanco 66'); Brandon Allen (Aidan Apodaca 66').
Substitutes not used: Kris Shakes, Prosper Chiluya, AJ Paterson, Mike Catalano.
RICHMOND KICKERS STARTING XI
Travis Worra; Raul Gonzalez, Alex Lee, Meikel Williams, Conor Shanosky, Austin Yearwood; Oscar Umar (Fred Owusu Sekyere 81'), Yudai Imura, Koby Osei-Wusu; Brian Shriver, Guiseppe Gentile (Heviel Cordoves 10'; Luiz Fernando 68').
Substitutes not used: Trevor Spangenberg, Matt Bolduc, Neil Hlavaty, William Yomby.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Weather: 63, rain, wind NE 8 mph
Officials: Thomas Snyder, Tyler Wyrostek (Assistant), Jaroslaw Werel (Assistant), Bobby Cordrey (Fourth Official).
LVHN TEAM NOTES
- Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder Drew Skundrich made his professional, league and team debut with a start in today's contest.
- Santi Moar collected his first goal and assist of 2018 in the contest. Sunday night was the second time in Moar's career he had collected both in the same match, with the other instance coming on the road at Toronto FC II on October 6, 2017. Moar now has three goals and seven assists in his professional career.
- Union defender Matt Real scored his second professional goal in the win. Real scored his first professional goal late in 2017, against Saint Louis FC in the club's regular-season finale.
- Chris Nanco conversion from the penalty spot was his fifth career goal with Steel FC and first since August 13, 2017, in a home match against Toronto FC II.
- Steel FC's 30 shots and 10 on frame are the most in the club's three-year history. The previous record came in 2017 when Steel FC attempted 21 against Saint Louis FC on October 15, 2017, while the club placed nine on frame against Toronto FC II back on August 13, 2017.
- Bethlehem Steel FC is now 3-1-2 all-time against the Richmond Kickers with all three of their wins coming at Goodman Stadium.
Images from this story
 Bethlehem Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke |
 Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder Santi Moar |
 Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder Santi Moar vs. the Richmond Kickers |
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 6, 2018
- Steel FC Offense Awakens in Victory over Richmond - Philadelphia Union II
- S2 Drops Close Match to USL-Leading Sacramento - Tacoma Defiance
- Battery Best Independence at MUSC Health Stadium - Charlotte Independence
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- Republic FC Reclaim Top Spot in Western Conference with 2-1 Win over Seattle - Sacramento Republic FC
- Nashville Becomes First Team To Take Points At New York - Nashville SC
- Match Preview | Ottawa Fury FC - Penn FC - Ottawa Fury FC
- Roughnecks Run Unbeaten Streak to 4 Straight Games with 1-1 Draw - FC Tulsa
- Lights FC Adds Another Point to Its 2018 Total in 1-1 Draw with Tulsa Roughnecks FC - Las Vegas Lights FC
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