Kickers

Preview: Kickers Looking to Blow Up the Score Board Against North Texas SC

The Kickers and their fans are looking for a win.

Published

5 years ago

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Opponent: North Texas SC  (3-2-4)
Date/Time: Saturday, July 3rd, 6:30 PM
Last Result: Kickers 1, NCFC 2

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Three Things to Kick About

  1. Broken Promises – Since his arrival Coach Sawatsky has stated that he wants the time to play an exciting, fun-to-watch, high-scoring brand of soccer. Since the end of last season and half-way through this season that has definitely not been happening. The team has scored 12 goals which put them firmly in the middle of the pack. Six of those goals were in two games. The Kickers have taken a total of 106 shots which puts them 3rd lowest in the league and more than 50 shots behind FC Tormenta. You can’t score if you don’t shoot.
  2. Must-win – By no means is this statistically a must-win game. However, after losing to the league’s worst team this past Friday the team needs to show that they have what it takes to win games. There really was no excuse for losing last Friday. They went into the half up a goal and then proceeded to give up two goals against NCFC. NCFC has only 3 points on the table all of them courtesy of the Richmond Kickers.
  3. Attendance – Last home game attendance was abysmal. The Kicker only managed to draw 2,009 fans. This weekend could be even worse competing with Fourth of July weekend activities. The Kickers marketing department had done nothing innovative to motivate the casual fans into coming this year. I know it’s unfair to compare the Squirrels and the Kickers but tonight the Squirrels are getting people in the door with a Grateful Dead Night and free bucket hats. Then on Sunday they’ve of course got the fireworks. Had the Kickers moved this game to Sunday the fans could have sat in the stands and watched the Fireworks that will be going off in Dogwood Dell. I’m not asking for a free pony just some innovation.

Prediction

I drove five hours round trip last Friday to Cary NC, 100% confident in a Kickers win. I was sorely disappointed and instead watched a team that couldn’t put the ball in the net or keep possession for more than a pass or two. They’ve had 5 home games and only won 2 of those games so my confidence has taken several hits. I am however a die-hard faithful (I’ve never pretended to be unbiased on these previews) so once again I’m hoping to see a Kickers team that lives up to their potential.

Kickers 2 – North Texas SC 0

Official Kickers Preview

The Richmond Kickers (3-4-3) return to City Stadium for their first match of the season against MLS affiliate North Texas SC (3-4-2), on July 3. Kickoff for this match is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
Richmond’s previous match was on the road at North Carolina FC. The match started with an early sixth-minute goal that resulted from a Kickers’ corner kick. Following a short corner, chaos ensued in the box with a headed attempt rattling off the crossbar before making it to Ivan Magalhães. The defender made a move to the goal line and crossed the ball towards the near post to Emiliano Terzaghi who glanced the ball with his head and slotted it into the net.

Richmond would see out the first half holding their early goal over the North Carolina squad. However, shortly after the second half opened, NCFC’s Max Flick whipped a headed ball into the far post from a delivery by Jay Tee Kamara, bringing the scoreline level at 1-1. Approximately nine minutes later, Kamara would score what would become the game-winner for North Carolina. Despite being down a man for most of the second half, the Reds would nearly find an equalizer late with two opportunities near the goal mouth that included Oalex Anderson’s shot being cleared off the line as well as a last-minute header created by a cross from Akira Fitzgerald that went just wide.

The Kickers finished the match with six shots and two on target with five of the shots coming from inside the box. Zaca Moran had an 84.2% passing accuracy and had 17 passes into the opposition’s half. Magalhães had five clearances, three interceptions, one block, and the assist for Terzaghi’s goal. Terzaghi was able to convert on his sole shot on goal and finished the match with an impressive 90% passing accuracy playing deeper on the pitch.
North Texas SC’s last match was at New England and resulted in a 3-0 loss. However, NTX’s matchup with Greenville Triumph two weeks prior down in the Lone Star State was a 3-0 result that sent the reigning titleholders back to South Carolina disappointed. The Reds seek their first win over the FC Dallas affiliate since both clubs joined USL League One in 2019 and have an opportunity to earn an important three points over a team that has yet to earn a point on the road in 2021.
Following the match with North Texas, Richmond’s next match will again be against an MLS affiliate at City Stadium against Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale CF on July 17. The last time the two teams matched up was early in the season on the road. Fort Lauderdale earned three points late following an 83rd-minute goal by Shaan Hundal that brought the scoreline to 2-1. Kickoff for the match is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
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Players to Watch

Richmond Kickers

Nil Vinyals (#10) came in off the bench against North Carolina and made 12 passes in the opposition’s half. The last time Vinyals faced off against North Texas SC was in October 2020 when he wore a South Georgia Tormenta FC shirt. The maestro banged in a worldly of a free kick in the waning minutes of the first half for his fourth outside-of-the-box goal of the season.

Juan Pablo Monticelli (#2) has meshed with the Richmond backline well over the start of the season and has contributed a few goals upfront. Monticelli made three tackles, created one chance, and one clearance. With his size and tenacity, Monticelli has been an asset for the Reds on set plays.

Ivan Magalhães (#4) was named Keiter CPA Player of the Match against North Carolina. His defensive talent combined with his attacking output to create the goal for Terzaghi proved his veteran ability and his ability to play

North Texas SC

Michael Maldonaldo (#15) is a highly efficient halfback and had some impressive stats against New England despite the loss. Maldonaldo had an 88.1% passing accuracy, 90% passing accuracy in the opposition’s half as well as four tackles, two clearances, and one interception.

Gibran Rayo (#14) is a creative winger for North Texas and scored a goal against Greenville Triumph several weeks ago in their 3-0 win. Rayo had two shots on goal against New England but had both blocked by NE’s goalkeeper. Rayo will be a danger on the wing going forward.

Thibaut Jacquel (#22) is the leading goalscorer for North Texas SC with three goals but didn’t play the last match against New England. When he’s able to be on the pitch, Jacquel is a player that requires attention from the defense.

 

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