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Kickers

Photos and Game Summary: Battle of the Goalkeepers Results in Scoreless Draw for Kickers

Despite many opportunities, neither team found the back of the net.

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5 years ago

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Three Quick Thoughts on the Game

  1. Scoring – The Kickers created plenty of opportunities but lacked the quality to sneak one past the keeper. It seemed everyone had a chance but either missed the target or were thwarted by NCFC’s goalkeeper. Oalex Anderson came in at the 66th minute and the pace of the game, as well as the pressure on goal, increased immensely. Emiliano Terzaghi continues to find his form and seems just a step away from brilliance. All that being said, five games with only five goals (three in the season opener) isn’t going to win the league. Especially as Greenville continues to find a way to win and pull away from the pack.
  2. No Goals for You – As mentioned both goalkeepers were in top form. Akira Fitzgerald was the Man of the Match and repeatedly came up big. If the Kickers want to climb the table, next week we need to be talking about a Man of the Match that isn’t the keeper. NCFC keeper, Jake McGuire had an equally impressive game. Including this stop. The ball was swatted and in the last picture you can see the Kickers looking for the ball.
  3. Crowded House (almost) – It was an impressive 2,377 fans that showed up on the first sweltering night of spring. The crowd was passionate, not always a given for Kickers games. This bodes well as Covid regulations change and more folks are allowed into the stands.

Photos

Official Kickers Summary

The Richmond Kickers (2-2-1) closed out the night with a scoreless draw at City Stadium against North Carolina FC (0-2-1). Akira Fitzgerald and the defense earned their second-straight clean sheet and their third of the season.

The Kickers were denied an early opening goal in the eighth minute after a strike by Matt Bolduc fizzed into the side goal post and rolled out. Approximately 24 minutes into the match, Nil Vinyals made an impressive tackle in the center of the pitch, passed it off to Matt Bolduc, who switched the ball to the left side for Jonathan Bolanos, who fired off a shot but was also denied by the woodwork.

Possibly the clearest cut opportunity of the first half came from a precision-placed through ball by Matt Bolduc over the top of the North Carolina center halves which landed at the feet of Jonathan Bolanos. The forward fired a shot past NCFC keeper, Jake McGuire, but the shot went just wide off the post and the halftime score remained 0-0.

After a scoreless first half, the Kickers sought the go-ahead opportunity and took another eight shots at the goal. With the entrance of Oalex Anderson at the 66th minute on the left wing, he provided a surge of pacey play that opened up several opportunities to convert a goal.

Around the 66th minute, Nil Vinyals standing over a direct free kick, sent the ball into the box for Oalex to finish with a header, but the NCFC keeper was there to deflect it away from the net. Nonetheless, the defensive line and keeper were solid in the back and Akira Fitzgerald had a spectacular outing with four saves and helped add to another Richmond clean sheet for the season.

The Kickers return to action on Saturday, May 29 when they travel to Chattanooga to take on the Red Wolves. Kickoff for that match is set for 7:00 p.m.

BOX SCORE
Team First Half Second Half Final
Richmond 0 0 0
North Carolina 0 0 0

LINEUPS
Richmond: Akira Fitzgerald, Juan Pablo Monticelli, Ivan Magalhães, Jalen Crisler, Esteban Calvo, Zaca Moran, Victor Falck, Nil Vinyals (81’ Hernan Gonzalez), Jonathan Bolanos (63’ – Oalex Anderson), Emiliano Terzaghi, Matt Bolduc.

Unused Substitutes: Luke Pavone, Chris Cole, Stanley Alves, Cameron Vickers, Austin Aviza.

North Carolina: Jake McGuire, Nelson Martinez (86’ – Britton Fisher), Nelson Blanco Flores, Malick Mbaye, Max Flick, Luis Arriaga, Jay Tee Kamara, Selmir Miscic, Pecka (75’ – Joshua Coan), Peter Pearson, Thorn Simpson (81’ – Yekeson Subah).

Unused Substitutes: Damian Las, Robert Frame, Collin McCamy, Caden Tolentino.

STATISTICS
Team Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Richmond 16 4 12 5
North Carolina 11 2 12 7

SCORING SUMMARY
None

CAUTIONS SUMMARY

Min Team Player
45′ NC Thorn Simpson
65′ NC Nelson Blanco Flores
80′ RIC Esteban Calvo
90+2′ NC Jay Tee Kamara
90+3′ NC Josh Coan

EJECTIONS SUMMARY
None

MATCH INFORMATION

Referee: John Matto
Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Skinker, Andrew Charron
Fourth Official: Nickrod Fateh
Attendance: 2,377
Weather: Sunny, 88 ºF

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Richard Hayes is the co-founder of RVAHub. When he isn't rounding up neighborhood news, he's likely watching soccer or chasing down the latest and greatest board game.