Saturday, April 7, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. – Jose Cuevas scored twice on his debut, spoiling the the Richmond Kickers 20th Anniversary Season home opener, as the Charleston Battery took a 2-1 victory at City Stadium on Saturday evening.
Both teams took a tentative approach in the first half, opting for possession and control over outright attack, but Charleston broke the deadlock in the 41st minute after an extended period of pressure on the Richmond goal. Battery midfielder Zach Prince connected with a cross, but Richmond defender Ryan Heins put his body on the line to make the block. From the resulting throw-in, Charleston defender John Wilson beat four Kickers players on a surging run down the left to the touchline before lofting a ball into the penalty for Cuevas. The midfielder’s looping header beat Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale and nestled into the corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
The goal sparked the game to life, and Richmond nearly equalized within a minute as Matthew Delicâte’s headed shot from a Stanley Nyazamba cross beat Battery goalkeeper Kevin Klasila but was cleared off the line by defender Kyle Hoffer. Nyazamba provided another dangerous cross in the 44th minute, but Luke Vercollone’s shot from six yards out flew just wide.
Nyazamba turned from provider to goalscorer in stoppage time in the first half, though, collecting a pass from Delicâte before losing his marker and curling a shot past Klasila and into the side netting to level the score going into halftime.
Richmond started the second half on the front foot, forcing Klasila into a fine save in the 50th minute, but numerous fouls turned the momentum in Charleston’s favor. The Battery scored amid controversy in the 67th minute, when striker Salieu Bundu appeared to dribble the ball over the end line for a Richmond goal kick, but no call was made and Bundu was able to cross into the box for an onrushing Cuevas, who made no mistake from six yards out.
The Kickers mounted a strong challenge for the equalizer late in the second half, but were unable to score despite numerous chances. Michael Callahan nearly scored with the last kick of the game with a powerful volley from the top of the box, but his effort sailed over the crossbar and Charleston claimed the 2-1 victory.
Richmond will travel to Charleston for a rematch with the Battery next Saturday, April 14. The Kickers return to City Stadium on Saturday, April 21 to host defending USL PRO champions Orlando City at 7 p.m.