Kickers take on Orlando this Saturday

The sun is shining in Kickerland. The good news yesterday was that midfielder Matthew Delicate will be available to play on Saturday. Delicate had a cancer scare earlier in the year which was dealt with through surgery. He now has a clean bill and health and is expected to be on the bench. Can anyone say Super Sub? The other good news is that with a win and some luck the Kickers could clinch a playoff spot. The Kickers need a win and both Bethlehem and Wilmington need to lose.

Saturday at 7 PM the Kickers will be facing Orlando City B. The team is called B because they are affiliated with Orlando City the MLS team. If you look up the grading scale “A” corresponds to “mastery” or “excellence”, “B” to “good”, a “C” is “acceptable” or “average”. If you look at the standings “B” is definitely falling into the “acceptable” or “average” section of the Eastern Division.

When the two teams met this past Sunday the result was a 1-1 draw. A draw for Orlando at City Stadium would be great result for the visitors. Their last road trip resulted in two losses.

Photo by Orlando City B

Players to watch according to the Richmond Kickers:

Kickers:  Jamaican forward Anthony Grant (#9) notched his second professional goal against Orlando City B to salvage the point on the road.  Breaking into the starting lineup in July, the 2015 PDL Most Valuable Player made history when he added a third goal in a Kickers uniform against Swansea City AFC last month to hand the Kickers their first-ever win against an English Premier League side.  Returning on loan from the club’s official MLS affiliate, D.C. United, goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (#50) is slated to backstop the Kickers for the fourth time this season.  On loan with the Kickers for the majority of the 2013 season, the MLS veteran earned 2013 USL Goalkeeper of the Year honors on route to the 2013 USL Regular Season Championship.  Anchoring the midfield in 22 games this season, Fred Owusu Sekyere (#4) has amassed over 3,000 minutes over two seasons with the Kickers.  A standout at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2006 to 2009, he made 28 appearances with the Charlotte Eagles before returning to Richmond in 2015.

OCB:  Michael Cox (#51) leads OCB with 22 points this season, adding his 10th goal last Sunday in the 1-1 draw against the Kickers.  One of the first signings for OCB’s inaugural season, the Canadian forward’s 10 goals currently ranks seventh in the USL.  On loan from the club’s official MLS affiliate, Orlando City, Richie Laryea (#6) has made 20 appearances with Orlando City B, amassing over 1,300 minutes and contributing a pair of assists. The Canadian midfielder was a regular starter at the University of Akron prior to being drafted by Orlando City in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Veteran midfielder Lewis Neal (#24) returned to the USL this season after an extensive career with Major League Soccer sides D.C. United and Orlando City SC.  Making 20 appearances with OCB in 2016, the former English Premier League midfielder led Orlando to the USL PRO title in the club’s inaugural USL season in 2011.

Saturday is Family Fest at the stadium which means Admission is just $20 for the whole family before 6:30 PM. Gates open up at 5:30 pm with live music by The Folly. Not only that there will be human foosball and a 24-foot double drop slide. If you’re hungry food trucks by Continental Divide, Carytown Burgers & Fries, and Mr. Softee.
Then, get loud with the Red Army when YOUR Richmond Kickers battle Orlando City B at 7pm.

The RVA Trolley will be operating a continuously running, FREE, hop-on-hop-off trolley loop from City Stadium to Carytown from 5-9:30 PM. After the game, hop on the trolley and join the Kickers pro players at the post-game party at Citizen Burger Bar (2907 West Cary Street).