USL PRO Game Report
Sunday, May 18, 2014
CHICAGO – A 90th-minute penalty kick save by Richmond Kickers goalkeeper, Joe Willis, preserved a shutout and a scoreless draw against the Chicago Fire Reserves on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park. The draw continued the Kickers six-game undefeated streak in USL PRO as they moved within two points of the LA Galaxy II for second place in the league standings.
Having weathered a barrage of shots on the day, Willis was called up one last time when the Fire were awarded a penalty kick in the final minute of regulation. Midfielder Gonzalo Segares received the ball at the top of the penalty area and dropped it off to an onrushing Giuseppe Gentile, who battled Kickers defender Alex Lee for control near the endline before drawing the foul. Orr Barouch stepped up to the spot but could not convert the game-winner as Willis read his left-footed shot to the right post to make the biggest save of the day.
Earlier in the USL PRO/MLS inter-league game, the Kickers nearly claimed a second-minute advantage when they drew a free kick in Chicago territory. Defender Sascha Goerres whipped in an outswinging free kick, connecting with Luke Vercollone at the penalty spot but his diving header scraped the left post as it went just wide.
Later, the Fire nearly capitalized on a free kick of their own when Barouch teed up a set piece 20 yards out. Bending the ball around the defensive wall, he stood by idly as Kickers defender William Yomby nodded it over the endline. On the counter attack, Kickers midfielder Shay Spitz raced down the right wing and sliced a cross into the box, searching for Jason Yeisley at the penalty spot but a Fire defender intercepted with a last-second header just past the near post.
With halftime looming, Fire midfielder Victor Pineda lofted a corner kick over a swarming box to the far side where Barouch tracked it down on the right edge of the 18. He served in a dangerous cross but could not elude Yomby who cleared the ball from harm’s way. The Kickers responded again on the counter when Hugh Roberts collected the ball in the midfield and played it wide to Samuel Asante who switched it back to Vercollone. The Kickers veteran midfielder played a square pass to George Davis IV deep on the left flank but Yeisley could not redirect the perfect cross as it skimmed just wide.
Five minutes into the second half, former Kickers midfielder Matt Watson laid the ball off to Barouch at the top of the box. Under heavy pressure, he split his defenders, turned and fired a rocket through the box but Willis was on his line and denied the attempt.
Willis was tested again in the 69th minute when the Fire played a short corner that pinged around the crowded box before darting out to Chris Ritter 20 yards out. The Fire defender sliced a low driven ball through traffic but the Kickers 6-foot-5 goalkeeper dropped low to scoop it up.
The Kickers nearly broke the deadlock in the 86th minute when they gained possession inside their own half. Latching onto the loss ball, Yomby swept through the midfield and slotted a leading ball to forward Michael Seaton. He rounded his mark into the box but Chicago goalkeeper Alec Kann’s kick save denied his point blank blast to finish the match deadlocked.
The Richmond Kickers return to City Stadium this Saturday, May 24 to host the Charlotte Eagles. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.