Saturday, June 22, 2013
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers remained undefeated this season after battling Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night at City Stadium. Conceding an early goal by Kekuta Manneh, the Kickers rallied from the deficit when Joseph Ngwenya buried the equalizer in the second half. Outshooting the MLS Reserves team 10-3 in front of a rain-soaked crowd of 2,135, the home side was denied twice by the woodwork after the 90th minute to take a point in the USL PRO-MLS interleague match-up.
Pressing early, Vancouver claimed the lead when midfielder Corey Hertzog controlled the ball through traffic 30 yards out before a missed clearance teed it up for Manneh, who barreled through the defensive congestion. Deftly eluding defenders, the speedy forward struck from the top of the penalty area and buried his finish into the bottom-left corner in the 23rd minute.
Looking to pull a goal back before the end of the first half, the Kickers nearly equalized in the 32nd minute when defender Shane Johnson delivered a long throw-in from the left wing over the defense, connecting with Michael Seaton. The Kickers 17-year-old forward carried the ball into the penalty area and played it back to a heavily marked Joseph Ngwenya 18 yards out. The resulting shot was blocked but the rebound fell to Nate Robinson whose shot from 16 yards whistled just wide of the target.
Five minutes later, Robinson delivered a ball from the right flank to the far post, finding Seaton who played it back to Brian Ownby 12 yards out, but the Kickers midfielder pulled his shot just wide. Robinson was dangerous again just before the break when he swiftly evaded defenders through the box and sliced the ball across the goalmouth. Hoping to connect with Seaton stationed at the far post, his well-timed cross bounced just out of reach.
Picking up where they left off, the Kickers’ persistence paid off 10 minutes after the restart when Ownby received the ball deep on the left wing and centered it for an onrushing Ngwenya, who made no mistake with his finish from six yards out.
As the weather worsened just before the hour mark, the Kickers nearly claimed the advantage when Ownby raced down the left flank and kept the ball from going over the end line. Whitecaps goalkeeper Simon Thomas batted his cross away, only to find Mike Callahan 12 yards out, and the midfielder laid it off to an onrushing Henry Kalungi. The Ugandan international rushed onto it and struck from the top of the box but his curling shot went inches over the crossbar.
The Whitecaps retaliated in the 72nd minute when Manneh played a corner from the right side back to Derek Bassi. The second-half substitute delivered the ball into the swarming box where it was cleared out to an awaiting Aminu Abdallah at the top of the penalty area, who forced Kickers goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra to leap to his left as his rocket-shot grazed just past the right post.
Later, Ngwenya saw a second goal called back due to an offside call before Ownby was thwarted by the post after a crafty pass from Seaton picked out his break on the left wing.
The Kickers did not let up on the throttle for the remainder of the second half, and nearly stole all three points, only to be twice denied the game-winner after the 90th minute. First, second-half substitute Matthew Delicate received the ball in the penalty area and played it back to Philippe Davies who struck from the top of the box. His shot was deflected wide for a corner, with the resulting inswinger finding William Yomby at the far post, but his header from point-blank range ricocheted off the upright before being cleared from harm’s way.
Then, with seconds remaining in regulation, the ball pinged around the box, eventually falling to Ownby who turned his mark at the top of the box and unleashed a determined shot that rattled the crossbar. That would be the final opportunity, though, as both teams took a point from the contest.
Following tonight’s match, the Richmond Kickers embark on an eight-game road trip, beginning with a back-to-back trip to Orlando City and VSI Tampa Bay FC on Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, respectively. Follow the Kickers on the road at USLNation.com.