Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com
Saturday, April 2, 2011
RICHMOND, Va. – Stanley Nyazamba and Matt Delicâte both scored as the Richmond Kickers opened the USL PRO 2011 season in front of 1,650 dedicated fans with a dominant performance to secure three points in a 2-0 win against Orlando City on Saturday evening at City Stadium.
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There were plenty of chances for the home side in the opening 45 minutes, including a rasping third-minute shot by Gerson dos Santos that Orlando City keeper Miguel Gallardo could only punch behind for a corner.
Richmond kept the pressure on throughout the first half, and nearly opened their scoring account for the season in the 18th minute when Delicâte’s diving header from Edson Elcock’s cross saw Gallardo equal to the task yet again.
Despite Richmond dominating possession, Orlando was not without chances in the first half. Lions striker Jamie Watson made a quick turn at the top of the penalty area in the 37th minute, but his shot sailed just wide of the post.
The Kickers countered immediately through Ryan Heins, who was fouled inside the area by Orlando midfielder Erik Ustruck. Nyazamba stepped up and sent Gallardo the wrong way with his penalty kick to give Richmond a 1-0 lead going into half time.
Richmond was on the front foot again after the restart, with multiple scoring opportunities coming in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Nyazamba nearly scored his second of the afternoon in the 57th minute after an intricate series of passes from a free kick put him through on goal, only to see his shot cannon off the crossbar. Elcock also struck the crossbar a minute later from the edge of the penalty area.
Gallardo was called into action in the 72nd minute to deny a point-blank shot from Delicâte, who had two other shots fly just over. Orlando mounted their only serious counter of the second half in the 82nd minute. A foul by Richmond’s Michael Callahan just outside the penalty area led to a headed City goal, but it was disallowed for a foul inside the box.
Just a minute later, Delicâte finally capitalized on a cross by Sascha Görres to give the Kickers their insurance goal, and Richmond was able to close out the game with its clean sheet intact.
The Kickers will be back in action at the University of Richmond Stadium next Saturday, April 9th, at 5 p.m. as they take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. For more information, visit www.RichmondKickers.com.