Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
RICHMOND, Va. – In a Tuesday evening feature at City Stadium, Richmond would finish its friendly with the Mexico U-21 National Team in a 1-1 draw as Richmond's Hugh Roberts and Mexico's Alfonso Tamay each found the back of the net.
Defense was the story for the first 45 minutes between Richmond and the Mexican National Team with both sides capitalizing on clearing chances and defensive plays to keep the game scoreless through the opening half.
Mexico tried to break the scoreless deadlock early in the first half off a corner kick in the seventh minute. Midfielder Rafael Escamilla took the corner on the right side of the box and sent his kick into the middle of both teams jostling for position inside Richmond's 18-yard box. Richmond fought to clear the ball but a Mexico player found the rebound and made a quick attempt on goal but it went wide to the right of the post and out of play.
The Kickers would answer Mexico's offensive attempts with a chance of their own in the 10th minute thanks to Richmond midfielder Nate Robinson. Robinson gained the zone on the left wing and dished the ball back to waiting defender Shane Johnson who was able to quickly send the ball into the Mexican defensive zone, finding midfielder Samuel Asante.
Asante was able to get a head to Johnson's seeking cross but the ball was grabbed by Mexican goalkeeper Alejandro Pelaez, keeping the game level.
Later in the 21st minute, Mexico again found itself in the attacking zone as Alfonso Tamay was able to get the ball settled and charged toward the Kickers' goal. His right-footed shot took a turn and went wide to the right and out of play for a Richmond goal kick.
Kickers' goalkeeper Ryan Taylor made defensive plays of his own to keep the his clean sheet going through the first half. In the 25th minute, Taylor was able to come off his line and charge the ball just outside the penalty box of Richmond, getting a head to it and clearing it away.
The ball did come to Mexico forward Guillermo Madrigan and his first-time shot went wide of the right post and out of play.
Mexico attempted to get the edge in the final moments of the first thanks to the play of Tamay, who powered through the Richmond defense and got to the top of the penalty area to fire off a quick shot. Tamay was stopped by the active hands of Taylor in goal, who grabbed the ball and made the save, allowing the game to remain scoreless at the end of the first half.
Once the second half got underway, Mexico got on the scoreboard quickly in the 53rd minute. Midfielder Uvaldo Luna drove from the right wing to the middle in an effort to find Tamay on the run. Tamay was able to race into the box and get deep into Richmond's penalty area and send his shot past Taylor and into the back of the net.
Later in the half, Richmond would respond thanks to a free kick taken by midfielder Shay Spitz, who sent a delivery into Mexico's 18-yard box and found the head of Richmond defender Hugh Roberts. In mid-air, Roberts was able to direct the shot directly into the upper-right corner of the goal and past Pelaez to make it 1-1.
Richmond remained dangerous in the final minutes as forward Tishan Hanley was able to take a shot that rang off the crossbar and back down to the ground inside Mexico's box. Mexico goalkeeper Palaez remained strong in goal as he stayed with the play and grabbed the ball to relieve the pressure as the game finished level.
With this friendly in the books, Richmond turns its attention back to USL PRO action as it welcomes the Real Salt Lake Reserves on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. ET. Order tickets now for upcoming games now at RichmondKickers.com.