In their first match-up of the 2017 USL season, the Richmond Kickers (2-4-1) and FC Cincinnati (2-3-3) would play to a 1-1 draw after an early first-half own goal by Cincinnati defender Harrison Delbridge and a late second-half goal by Cincinnati’s Jimmy McLaughlin.
Scoring would open early in first half in favor of the Kickers after
a Richmond ball was swung across Cincinnati’s 18-yard box, finding Kickers defender Chris Korb on the run on the left side of Richmond’s offensive zone during the seventh minute of play.
Korb, on loan with Richmond from Kickers MLS affiliate D.C. United,
was able to settle the ball and keep it from going out of bounds and create a prime scoring chance by sending the ball back into Cincinnati’s penalty box, navigating its way to Kickers midfielder Fred Owusu Sekyere, who redirected the ball before it took a
second deflection off defender Harrison Delbridge and into the back of the net, beating Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt to his left side and elevating Richmond to an early 1-0 lead.
Cincinnati would attempt to level the score later in the half during
the 30th minute thanks to their third corner kick of the game. A threatening ball was sent into the heart of Richmond’s penalty box, deflecting off several FC Cincinnati players before the ball was eventually fired on goal by defender Austin Berry, calling
Richmond goalkeeper Matt Turner into action, who was able to make a diving save to his left to grab the ball and negate the offensive pressure just over midway through the first half.
Toward the end of the half, Richmond would try to extend their lead
thanks to the efforts of Kickers defender Alex Lee, who was able to drive along the left side of the Cincinnati zone and send the ball to forward Luiz Fernando, but his shot near the right side of Cincinnati’s goal went well over the crossbar and out of play.
A late corner attempt taken by Cincinnati midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin
was able to find its way inside Richmond’s 18-yard box but the Kickers’ defense was able to head the ball out of the zone and allow Richmond to carry a one-goal lead into the locker room at the end of the half.
Early in the second half, Richmond worked to add to their offense during
the 50th minute as Fernando dished the ball to forward Oliver, who fired a first-time shot on Cincinnati’s goal that was saved by Hildebrandt as he sprawled out to prevent the Kickers from scoring their second goal of the night.
Cincinnati would respond with their own offensive pressure moments
later during the 70th minute as a counterattack by FC Cincinnati resulted in forward Kadeem Dacres passing the ball ahead to defender Matt Bahner, who was able to find space and fire the ball into the middle of the Richmond penalty area, reaching McLaughlin
who was able to launch a first-time shot on goal, beating goalkeeper Turner to his left and leveling the scoreline at one goal aside.
Richmond tried to get back out front on the scoreboard in the 80th
minute as Fernando worked along the right side of the Cincinnati defensive zone before the ball was sent into their 18-yard box by the Kickers offense, finding the head of forward Alhaji Kamara, but his shot would rise and deflect just off the crossbar and
go out of play in the closing minutes of the second half.
A late foul handed to Richmond during the 89th minute would give Cincinnati
a scoring chance right at the top of the Kickers’ penalty box off a free kick opportunity. The kick was taken by Quinn as the clock approached the 90th minute, but his shot went well over the crossbar and out of play as the teams entered three minutes of stoppage
time.
While both clubs would trade chances until the final whistle, Cincinnati
and Richmond would draw 1-1 during their first meeting of the 2017 USL season.
The Richmond Kickers will complete their two-game homestand on Saturday,
May 13 when they host the Harrisburg City Islanders at City Stadium for a 7pm kickoff before heading on the road for their match against the Rochester Rhinos on May 21 at Capelli Sport Stadium.
Lineups
Kickers: GK Matt Turner, Mallan Roberts, Alex Lee, Evan Lee, Braeden Troyer, Luiz Fernando, Fred Owusu Sekyere, Chris Korb
(71’ – Sunny Jane), Samuel Asante, Oliver (75’ – Finnlay Wyatt), Alhaji Kamara (84’ – Anthony Grant)
FC Cincinnati: GK Mitch Hildebrandt, Austin Berry,
Matt Bahner, Harrison Delbridge, Tyler Polak, Corben Bone, Aodhan Quinn, Daryl Fordyce (80’ – Omar Cummings), Cristian Martinez (59’ – Kadeem Dacres), Andrew Wiedeman (68’ – Victor Mansaray), Jimmy McLaughlin
