The World Cup might be over, but soccer is still alive and kicking here in RVA.
The World Cup might be over, but soccer is still alive and kicking here in RVA. This weekend, the Richmond Kickers (9-1-8, 35 points) face off against the Charleston Battery (4-7-5, 17 points) at City Stadium, but there’s more then soccer on tap.
SUMMER FEST begins when the gates open at 5:30 p.m. with live music from The Centipedes, RVA food trucks, water slides and inflatable games for kids and frosty beverages in the stadium’s outdoor bar for adults. Four tickets are available for $20 before 6:30 p.m.
You can pick up tickets for Saturday’s events here!
Players to Watch
Kickers: Cameroonian native William Yomby (#2) recently led the Kickers’ defensive unit to their sixth shutout of the season, holding the Real Salt Lake Reserves scoreless earlier this month. The five-time USL PRO All-League First Team defender was a 2013 USL PRO Defender of the Year Finalist, leading the club to the USL PRO Regular Season Championship title last season.
Midfielder Samuel Asante (#28) has contributed two assists this season, adding a goal during this year’s U.S. Open Cup tournament. The native of Sunyani, Ghana spent the 2013 season with the Charlotte Eagles, making 21 appearances en route to the USL PRO championship match. Forward Matthew Delicâte (#7) added his 11th and 12th goals of the season with a second half double against Sacramento last week, ranking first in the league and earning USL PRO Player of the Week honors. Notching 84 goals over eight seasons in Richmond, the club’s all-time leading scorer surpassed the century mark in career goals with a tally over the New England Revolution in June.
Battery: The 2012 USL PRO Rookie of the Year, Jose Cuevas, re-signed with the Battery this week after leading the PDL side Fresno Fuego in assists with seven in 11 appearances this season. Despite an early season injury in 2013, Cuevas returned late in the summer and added four goals and three assists last year to help lift the Battery to the third seed in the USL PRO playoffs. Cuban goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper (#0) returned for his sophomore season with the Battery after defecting from the Cuban National Team before a World Cup Qualifier in 2012.
Making 22 appearances in Charleston last season, he posted seven shutouts, adding five more clean sheets in 14 games to start the 2014 campaign. Leading the Battery to three of their four Championship titles, veteran defender John Wilson (#25) has anchored the Battery defense for more than a decade. Reversing a retirement decision prior to the 2011 season, Wilson resides in second place on the Battery’s all-time career list with 246 appearances and over 21,000 minutes played.
And DON’T FORGET Kickers Host English Premier League Side Crystal Palace July 28
The world famous Barclay’s Premier League will travel to City Stadium that Monday and this historic match marks the first-time ever a team from England’s top flight will appear in Virginia and a sell-out is expected. Tickets are on sale now through the Kicker’s website.
