The Richmond Kickers remained undefeated in their last eight USL games as they drew with Orlando City B 1-1 Sunday evening.
The Richmond Kickers remained undefeated in their last eight USL games as they drew with Orlando City B 1-1 Sunday evening. Orlando took the lead in the first half from a penalty kick by Michael Cox, but Anthony Grant was able to equalize in the second half to give the Kickers a valuable point on the road.
In the 13th minute of the game, the Kickers had an opportunity to take the lead. Fred Owusu Sekyere collected the ball in midfield and played a perfectly weighted pass to Anthony Grant, who struck a low shot that was saved by Mark Ridgers.
Yudai Imura would create the best opportunity for Richmond of the first half. Samuel Asante collected the ball on the right side and cut in at the top of the box. Asante would lay the ball off for an onrushing Imura, who calmly put a shot on goal. Ridgers would get a foot to the shot deflecting it away.
Orlando would take the lead in the 44th minute of the game from a penalty kick. Alex Lee was called for a foul after taking down Richie Laryea on the edge of the box. Michael Cox then stepped up to take the kick and slotted the ball to left side of the goal, giving OCB a 1-0 lead at half time.
Anthony Grant then equalized in the 53rd minute of the game. Sunny Jane made a great run in the box to the endline. He then would cross the ball back towards the six-yard box and from a tight angle, Anthony Grant would side foot the ball in the back of the net, scoring his second goal of the season and leveling the score at 1-1.
Just moments later, the link-up between Grant and Jane almost paid off again. Grant broke through the middle and played a ball out the left flank where Sunny Jane would collect the ball and fire a shot that rolled just wide of the Orlando post.
D.C. United loanee, Andrew Dykstra, came up with a big stop in the 79th minute. Michael Cox fired a shot from outside the box and was looking for his second goal of the game, but Dykstra did well to get low and save the shot.
The Kickers were then reduced to 10 men for the last five minutes of the game, as Michael Callahan picked up his second yellow card of the game.
In the last play of the game, the Kickers were able to hang on through another Andrew Dykstra save. A long ball was played into the box and flicked on towards Michael Cox whose shot from close distance was well reacted to by Dykstra.
The Richmond Kickers increased their unbeaten streak to eight games, with six of those being wins. The Kickers will be back at City Stadium to face Orlando City B again on Saturday, August 27. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.
