USL PRO Game Report
Saturday, April 5, 2014
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers claimed a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night at City Stadium. Forward Michael Seaton opened scoring in the first half with midfielder Kyle Porter notching a pair of goals on either side of a Collins John tally as the Kickers earned all three points in their 2014 home opener.
The Kickers jumped out to an early lead when defender Luke Vercollone carried the ball into the penalty area before being stifled by a Pittsburgh defender. Collin Martin picked up the weak clearance and slotted it through traffic, only to once again be denied by a deflection. However, an unmarked Seaton rounded the back line at the left post and buried the rebound into the far right corner in the 19th minute.
The advantage was nearly short-lived; however, as the Riverhounds squandered the chance to level the score minutes later when midfielder Matt Dallman lined up a free kick inches from the box but stood idly by as his shot sailed just wide.
Soon after, the Kickers almost capitalized in the 24th minute when George Davis IV was awarded a free kick at midfield. Martin beat his mark and played a leading ball through to Porter, but his close range strike was swept away for a corner.
Picking up where they left off after the break, the Kickers doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Samuel Asante played a long ball over the defense, meeting Porter at the top of the penalty area. As Riverhounds goalkeeper Gregg Blum charged off his line to challenge, the D.C. United loanee calmly slotted the ball into the far corner.
Porter was back in action four minutes later as he streaked down the right flank, but he could not elude Blum a second time as the Riverhounds goalkeeper leapt to smother the ball. Then, on a quick counter attack in the 69th minute, Seaton received the ball on the left flank and played it back to Porter at the top of the box but his shot soared skyward.
With 15 minutes remaining in regulation, the Riverhounds pressed to pull a goal back with a series of dangerous shots that eventually found the target in the 82nd minute. Former Kickers midfielder Joseph Ngwenya picked up the ball on the left edge of the box, 20 yards out. Heavily marked as he approached the penalty area, he served a cross through the box, connecting with John at the far post, who made no mistake inside the right corner.
With the equalizer in sight, the Riverhounds were awarded consecutive corner kicks in the 90th minute but Dallman’s whipped inswingers, turned point-blank headers, dipped just over the bar.
Then, in his debut at City Stadium, Ryan Taylor was tested late in the game when John received the ball at the end line and played it back to Dallman but the Kickers keeper stretched to make the save.
Despite the Riverhounds’ last-ditch effort to level the score, the Kickers claimed the full three points when second half substitute Christiano Francois evaded defenders and played Porter through to the top of the penalty area. Held at the 18, the crafty midfielder tucked the ball inside the far post for his second tally of the night.
The Richmond Kickers travel to the Charlotte Eagles next Saturday before returning to City Stadium on Saturday, April 19 to host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at 5 p.m. Order tickets in advance at RichmondKickers.com.