Richmond Kickers News Release - www.richmondkickers.com
Saturday, April 23, 2011
RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers (4-0-0) earned revenge on the Charleston Battery (2-1-0) in dramatic fashion, with a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory against the 2010 USL-2 champions. Charleston forward Levi Coleman gave the visitors an early lead with a 15th-minute tally before Richmond midfielder David Bulow leveled the score in the second half. Newcomer Shaka Bangura thrilled the Richmond crowd of 1,833 with the 90th-minute, game-winning goal.
Entering the match just seconds earlier, Bangura saved the day for the home side, registering his first goal of the season, in his first minute of play in a Kickers uniform. Dave Hertel regained possession at midfield and fed the ball to a streaking Bangura on the right wing. With fresh legs, he barreled down the flank and slotted a rocket-shot from 12 yards into the far corner to lift the Kickers to victory.
It was a tale of two halves as the Battery controlled the field during the first 45. Applying pressure directly out of the gates, the Battery tested Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale within the first two minutes of play. Midfielder Kevin Jackson attempted a shot from distance but his ambitious strike dipped just over the crossbar seconds after the opening whistle.
Three minutes later, midfielder Nicki Paterson served an early ball into the box, finding Coleman in the air. Coleman’s driven header from close range ricocheted off the far post and was easily caught by Pascale. Coleman was not to be denied a second time, notching the first half’s lone goal in similar fashion in the 15th minute. This time, it was midfielder Cole Peverly, positioned on the far post, who looped a header across the goal mouth finding Coleman four yards out. His point blank header skimmed Pascale’s fingertips as it landed squarely in the net.
The Kickers’ best chance of the half came minutes before Charleston’s tally when midfielder Stanley Nyazamba played the ball back to Gerson dos Santos. Carrying the ball forward, he delivered it into the mix from the top of the crowded box, finding Edson Elcock in the penalty area. The swift midfielder attempted a bicycle kick but the ball sailed just wide of the target, sending the Kickers into the locker room trailing by one.
Following the second half restart and a pair of changes to the lineup, the momentum shifted to the Kickers advantage. The Richmond midfield put the Charleston defense through the paces with a barrage of shots within the first eight minutes, but it was not until the 63rd minute that the home side could sneak past the staunch back line.
Entering the game at the half, forward David Bulow immediately made his presence known, brining the score level. Midfielder Mike Callahan lined up a corner kick and delivered an inswinger into the box, connecting with an airborne Bulow at close range, burying his header into the back of the net.
The Kickers stifled the Battery attack until Bangura’s 90th minute tally lifted them to the fourth victory of the season.
“Overall, we did very well,” said Mike Anhauser, Charleston Head Coach. “We got the first goal and kept them under pressure in the first half. They are good on set pieces and were able to equalize. It looked like it would go in 1-1, but it was a good finish and unfortunately we were on the wrong end of the points tonight.”
“We were very disappointed at halftime because we didn’t come to play,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer. “We were naïve, played too negative and had a few choice words at halftime.”
“I knew if we could get a goal, we could go on to win the game,” continued Cowlishaw. “The important part is we got a lot of contribution from the squad. A lot of the guys were very good in training this week so I knew when we needed them, they would step up. All five guys that came on made the difference and helped us win the match tonight.”
The Kickers conclude their four-game home stand with 12 points at the top of the table and head to face expansion club Dayton Dutch Lions next Saturday, April 30. The Kickers return to City Stadium on Saturday, May 7 to host the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7:00 p.m.
Starting Lineups
Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, William Yomby, Henry Kalungi, Sascha Görres, Gerson dos Santos (Bobby Foglesong 61’), Luke Vercollone, Michael Callahan (Shaka Bangura 89’), Ryan Heins (David Bulow 45’), Edson Elcock (Dave Hertel 87’), Stanley Nyazamba (Nozomi Hiroyama 45’), Matthew Delicâte
Battery: GK Keith Wiggans, Nigel Marples, John Wilson, Colin Falvey, Mike Zaher, Kevin Jackson (Zach Prince 61’), Cole Peverly, Evan Taylor (Alex Caskey 70’), Nicki Paterson, Dane Kelly (JC Mack 75’), Levi Coleman (Seedy Bah 56’)