Sunday, July 21, 2013
FULLERTON, Calif. -- The Richmond Kickers overcame a halftime deficit to take a 2-1 victory against the Los Angeles Blues on Sunday evening at Titan Stadium. The Kickers got two goals in the final 15 minutes through Brian Ownby and a penalty kick converted by David Bulow, which allowed the side to extend its USL PRO-record undefeated stream to 19 games and pull within a point of Orlando City at the top of the league standings.
The Blues opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Matt Fondy found a ball served up by Rodrigo Lopez, and beat Richmond goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra to get on the board. Fondy contributed more than just a goal in the first half, with great target play and a clear field of vision to connect passing for the Blues on more than one occasion. Both Fondy and Matt Hall did a great job at getting forward, but it was the Kickers' defense that really played a big part in the Blues' inability to finish, proving why they have conceded the fewest goals in the league this season.
The Blues did have several chances to add to their lead, but their closest opportunities came in the the 37th minute and right before the halftime whistle. Hall fed a superb pass to Allan Russell, who served a cross up to Fondy, and the forward tried to hammer it home with his head, but it was smothered by Dykstra. Just before halftime, Fondy impressively went one-on-one with a defender and served Russell with a clean pass, but he was unable to put the finish away and the Blues ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Richmond came roaring back as they applied greater pressure, which led to the equalizer in the 77th minute. On a counter-attack that saw the Kickers break out two-on-two at the halfway line, a one-two ball between Matt Delicate and Ownby allowed the Houston Dynamo loanee to break in on goal, and he delicately chipped it over Mohammadi as the goalkeeper advanced off his line.
The Kickers would then take the lead in the 86th minute after a long ball into the penalty area was handed by Erlys Garcia. The referee called for a penalty kick, and Bulow converted easily to put Richmond ahead 2-1.
The Blues pushed for an equalizer in the remaining minute, but their final ball let them down. Los Angeles was also reduced to 10 men in stoppage time as Allan Russell was shown a second yellow card, and Richmond was able to hold on for all three points.
The Blues will travel east for their next two games in the league as they face the Charlotte Eagles on Wednesday night at Queens Sports Complex, and then the Charleston Battery on Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium. They will then come back home to close out the season with three home games at Titan Stadium.