The Richmond Kickers (8-6-5) defeated Toronto FC II (5-12-5) 3-0 at City Stadium on Saturday night. Richmond have now picked up three wins in their last three matches.
The Richmond Kickers (8-6-5) defeated Toronto FC II (5-12-5) 3-0 at City Stadium on Saturday night. Richmond have now picked up three wins in their last three matches. Yudai Imura increased his tally for the season to six goals with a brace after Miguel Aguilar opened the scoring.
Richmond started the game on the front foot. D.C. United loanee, Luke Mishu, delivered a perfectly curled ball into the box finding Sunny Jane, who would head the ball wide of the Toronto goal.
The Kickers then took the lead in the 11th minute of the game. Fellow D.C. United loanee, Miguel Aguilar, received the ball on the top of the box, from a Yudai Imura lay off, he then beat his defender and launched a left footed shot that hit the post and went into the back of the net, scoring his first goal of the season to give the Kickers a 1-0 lead.
Sunny Jane almost made it three goals in three games after finding space on the top the box and he would release a left footed strike that flew just wide of Toronto goalkeeper, Angelo Cavalluzzo.
Late in first half stoppage time Richmond goalkeeper Matt Turner made his first save of the day. Toronto forward, Ayo Akinola, found space on the right side of the box and struck the ball across the goalkeeper, forcing Turner to dive low and parry his shot away from the danger.
Early in the second half, Sunny Jane drove past Toronto defender, Steven Furlano, who took down Jane in the penalty box. Yudai Imura stepped up to take the penalty kick and placed the ball in the left corner, scoring his fifth goal of the season, and giving Kickers a 2-0 lead.
Toronto FC II had their best chance of the match in the 53rd minute. Brian James found himself with time and space on the top of the box and fired a low shot towards goal that hit Toronto forward, Raheem Edwards, but he was unable to direct the ball past Turner.
Matt Turner was called into action again in the 67th minute. Brian James released a curling effort from the top of the box that Turner did well to push over for a corner kick.
Yudai Imura scored his second goal of the game in the 70th minute. Luiz Fernando beat his defender on the right wing, crossed the ball into Samuel Asante, who first time laid the ball off for Yudai Imura outside the box, who would strike ball into the back of the net, scoring his second of the night and increasing Richmond’s lead to 3-0.
The Kickers almost made it four when Sascha Görres whipped in a left footed cross that would be met by Brian Ownby at the back post, but his header was saved by Cavalluzzo.
Center back, Chris Durkin, made his USL debut on Saturday night and broke the record of the youngest Kicker to start and play at the age of 16 years and 147 days. The D.C. United loanee has now recorded two clean sheets in as many games, including last weeks’ match versus Premier League side, Swansea City AFC.
The Kickers will be back at City Stadium on Saturday, July 30 when they host Kickers Fiesta and New York Red Bulls II. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.
Lineups
Kickers: GK Matt Turner, Chris Durkin, Hugh Roberts, Braeden Troyer (Sascha Goerres – 52’), Luke Mishu, Miguel Aguilar (Luiz Fernando – 60’), Lucas, Fred Owusu Sekyere (Michael Callahan – 74’), Yudai Imura (Sascha Görres – 74’), Sunny Jane, Anthony Grant (Brian Ownby – 74’)
Toronto: GK
Phil DiBennardo (Angelo Cavalluzzo – 15’), Wesley Charpie (Roberto Boskovic – 75’), Mitch Taintor, Skylar Thomas, Steven Furlano, Chris Mannella, Luca Uccello, Brian James, Adam Daniels, Ayo Akinola (Shaan Hundal – 62’), Raheem Edwards (Salvador Bernal -75’)
