Kickers
Preview: Open Cup Returns to Richmond as Kickers Face NC Fusion U-23
Wednesday night the Kickers return to the Open Cup after a two-year forced hiatus.
What is the Open Cup? – Technically, The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout cup competition in men’s American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States. What makes it exciting is that it pits teams from all levels of U.S. soccer against each other. Amateur teams if they make far enough could end up facing top-level (MLS) professional teams. MLS teams have dominated the competition since the league began play in 1996. No lower division team has won the U.S. Open Cup since the Rochester Rhinos in 1999, and none have reached the final since the Charleston Battery in 2008. Our very own Richmond Kickers won the Open Cup in 1995 and in 2011 the Kickers went on the road and beat two MLS Teams the Columbus Crew and Sporting KC. They fell to the Chicago Fire in the semi-final.
1995 Open Cup Winners Richmond Kickers
Opponent: USL2 team NC Fusion U-23 (Beat USL1 Charlotte Independence to advance)
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 20th, 6:30 PM
Last Result: League 0-1 loss to Chattanooga, Open Cup 1-0 win against Northern Virginia FC
Weather Forecast From WeatherBug.com
Three Things to Kick About
- Destiny – The last time the Kickers won the Open Cup we had a fellow by the name of Jeff Causey on the team. This year we have this fellow’s son Austin Causey on the team. Coincidence, I think not. Both and Jeff are goalkeepers. Will we see Austin in goal tomorrow? I’m beating not but I’m a notoriously bad bettor. Read about that 1995 Kickers Open Cup win here.
- So Tired – The Kickers have had a ridiculously packed start to their season. This will be the 5th game in 18 days. Three of those game required travel to such exotic locales as NOVA and Chattanooga. The Kicker then has a league game on Monday in Charlotte. Managing tired players while still getting the win is going to be a challenge for Coach Sawatzky. Added to the challenge is a couple of injuries on the Kickers roster. It will be very interesting to see the starting lineup and how substitutions are handled.
- Underdogs Bite – Underdogs in this tournament have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They nearly always come in with a chip on their shoulder and aren’t afraid to make up for a lack of talent with a few (or more than a few) hard fouls. Open Cup games in these early rounds are rarely pretty but they are often exciting hard-hitting affairs. I expect this to be more of the same.
- Bonus Kick About Point – Our buddies over at River City 93 have an interview with NC Fusion U-23 coach Chris Williams. Definitely worth the quick read to learn about the visitors. My favorite quote. “We are looking for hungry players who have been “passed by”. Many of our players have had opportunities and trials at the clubs we are playing against! For some reason or other, they have been passed by. We understand the nature of professional football, and timing is everything. For our players, that motivation to show those coaches who have passed them by is such a driving force behind why our players need to play with a chip on their shoulders. We simply say to our players, “Show them! Show them why they should have picked you!”
Prediction
Making predictions in the Open Cup is tough. The NC Fusion roster is only 2 months old and they’ve had less than a dozen training sessions. Can grit and determination triumph over professionals that have been playing seemingly back-to-back games? We saw that Charlotte Independence faltered so that makes us pause. Ultimately I think Kickers will start outstanding goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald and he will be the difference. The game has the potential to go into stoppage time (no draws in Open Cup play) and the score will be close, regardless.
Kickers 1 – NC Fusion 0
Community
PREVIEW: Kickers Face Playoff Nemesis Chattanooga
Revenge is a dish best served at City Stadium. Chattanooga knocked the Kickers out of the playoffs last year and the Kickers are looking for payback.
Opponent: Chattanooga (2-5-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, June 3rd, 7:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 1 – Tormenta 1
Weather Forecast From WeatherBug.com
Three Things to Kick About
- Vinyals Returns – Nil Vinyals came off the bench last Saturday so barring a training setback he should be in the starting lineup. With the midfielder back in action expect the midfield to look better and hopefully more in control of the ball. In theory that control should lead to more transition into attack and more goals.
- Everyone Scores – So far this year seven different Kickers have scored, with midfielder João Silva leading the pack with 3. The latest goal was a beautiful Olympico but Sukow that must be seen to be believed. Don’t whine at me that it was a cross. It goes into the books as a goal and will be celebrated as such. So far 8 goals have been produced by the midfielders and defenders. Meanwhile our forwards, you know the guys paid to put the ball in the net have racked up 4 goals.
- Hot Ticket – It does my jaded heart good to see the amount of support in the stands the team is getting this year. Every game so far has had over 5,000 in attendance. This is well over the 3,500 or so we averaged last year. I’m not sure what switch flipped in the community but I’m glad to see it happen. The drawback is longer lines for food and drink but the Kickers are addressing that with more trucks. If you’re looking for a drink don’t forget there are multiple beer stations you don’t have to go straight for the building in the center of the concourse.
Prediction
The Kickers had a tremendous season last year until their first playoff game. In that game, despite being a man up for the majority of the game they ended up losing to Chattanooga by a goal. The fans, coaches and certainly the players remember the night a little too well. A win would have meant hosting the Championship Game in City Stadium, instead, it ended with a crushing defeat. Revenge will be on everyone’s mind and Chattanooga is not having a great season. The Red Wolves sit in second to last place and have a -8 goal differential. If ever there was a time for the Kickers to rack up some goals and get their scoring mojo flowing this is it. I predict it will happen.
Kickers 3 – Chattanooga 0
Community
PHOTOS & GAME SUMMARY: Kickers Back On Track With Win Over Lexington
An action filled second half made for a tense final minutes but Kickers held on for the win and three needed points.
Official Kickers Game Summary
RICHMOND KICKERS: 2 60′ Belmar (Gordon), 76′ Gomiero (Mecham)
LEXINGTON SC: 1 90+3′ Smart (penalty)
The Richmond Kickers’ (3-2-4, 13 pts) earned a 2-1 win in front of 5,252 fans in their first-ever matchup with league debutants, Lexington SC (2-5-1, 7 pts), Saturday night as the Roos tentatively vaulted into third place in USL League One.
Kharlton Belmar and João Gomiero each scored their first goals at home to reward RVA for their continued support in making City Stadium the most-attended venue in the league.
Richmond and Lexington locked horns in a competitive first half as both keepers put together strong performances between the pipes, stifling dangerous chances and keeping the score locked at zeroes at the break.
The Kickers powered forward on the momentum of their first-half performance and found their first goal in the 60th minute.
Richmond progressed the ball into Lexington’s penalty area, but the visitors forced a turnover. However, they failed to clear the ball out as Justin Sukow raced to keep the ball alive with a slide and pass out wide to Owayne Gordon.
The winger took on his defender, bouncing outside before cutting the ball back across the six-yard box. Belmar pounced on the opportunity and powered a low-driven shot into the net as the keeper was left ball-watching.
Richmond struck for the eventual game-winner 16 minutes later.
Sukow was the catalyst again as he lofted a ball from midfield up the right wing for Jake Mecham who was timing a forward run perfectly, shedding his defender. With acres of space, Mecham ran onto the ball near the backline and cut the ball back toward the penalty spot as Gomiero perfectly timed his run into the box and one-timed a curling ball away from the keeper and right inside of the far post.
The goal marked Gomiero’s third of the week after he scored his first goals as a member of the Kickers on the road at North Carolina FC on Wednesday night. Mecham’s assist was his first as a professional.
Lexington had the opportunity to cut Richmond’s lead late after drawing a penalty in the third minute of eight allotted minutes for stoppage.
After Akira Fitzgerald deflected a Lexington attempt on the goal with a kick save, Lexington’s Nico Brown was running toward the ball with his back toward goal. Gomiero appeared to get to the ball first as his leg collided with Brown’s, but it was determined as Brown went to ground that the contact was enough for a penalty kick.
Veteran attacker Don Smart stepped up and hit a low shot to the left. Fitzgerald dove in the correct direction, but the shot had just enough pace on it to beat his reaching hand and end up in the back of the net.
The win at City Stadium proved cathartic as the Kickers celebrated their first league victory at home. Richmond dominated the stats outshooting Lexington 17-13, making six more final third entries, and earning four more corners. And the night ended with hundreds of fans crowding the front of the seating bowl as the Kickers signed autographs a long while after the final whistle rang out in the stadium.
The Kickers are back on the road next week to face reigning USL League One Champs, South Georgia Tormenta FC on Saturday, May 27th. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:30 p.m. The Kickers will host an official watch party at the Ardent Barrel Room.
The Kickers then return home on Saturday, June 3rd to host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC during Military Appreciation Night presented by Tech For Troops. The doors at City Stadium are set to open at 5:45 p.m. ahead of the 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets are available at richmondkickers.com/tickets.
Stay up to date with all of the Kickers news at RichmondKickers.com and on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Download the Richmond Kickers mobile app for news, contests, and more!
Community
Game Preview: Kickers Cap Busy Week With Home Game
Kickers are on pace to break all sorts of attendance records this year but need to start getting some wins to keep that momentum.
Opponent: Lexington (2-4-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 19th, 7:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 2 – NCFC 3
Weather Forecast From WeatherBug.com
Three Things to Kick About
- Rebound – On Wednesday the team was in Cary, North Carolina taking on the league leaders NCFC. The first half was all Kickers and they had a two goal lead going into the locker room. The second half things took a disastrous turn. Three unanswered goals later and the Kickers left the field with a loss. I was down there and can say the mood of the players and coaches after that game was about as low as I’ve seen. This game will be an excellent chance to wash that bad feeling away and get back on track.
- Shallow – The game on Wednesday pointed to exactly how shallow our depth is on the Kickers. Three starters were out with injury and the Kickers had academy kids on the bench. This is more than an Achilles’ heel for this team more of an Achilles’ torso. Hopefully, on Saturday Vinyals will return to the mid-field.
- Terzaghi – It’s only a rumor since the Kickers keep information on lockdown but word in the stands was that last year’s scoring juggernaut was out with an injury. Although Terzaghi is struggling to find the back of the net he’s still a vital part of the Kickers offense and his injury adds to the team’s issues.
Prediction
This is the first time ever that the Kickers will face Lexington. I went into this saying this should be an easy win for the Kicker because after all the new guys are below us in the standings. On closer inspection, I learned that both teams sit on only 2 wins. The Kickers only saving grace is a game in hand and 4 draws. The Kickers goal differential sits at -1 while Lexington is at -4 so not a massive difference there either. My prediction is based on both Vinyals and Terzaghi returning to the line-up of which I have no evidence. I definitive win is needed for the players and the fans.
Kickers 2
Lexington 0
Citizen Burger Turns Off the Grills
PREVIEW: Kickers Face Playoff Nemesis Chattanooga
Tiki Club RVA Sets Sail on Saturday
Photo of the Day: Morning Commute in Fog
WATCH: Richmond Region Tourism’s new marketing campaign proves Richmond “speaks for itself”
Virginia’s medical cannabis program has ‘improved’ but more needed to meet expectations
Richmond Needs This: Surfing
Renderings: James River Association breaks ground on James A. Buzzard River Education Center
Science Museum of Virginia offering special $10 admission days on 10 separate dates this year
