Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Richmond Kickers handed Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City their first loss in LiveSTRONG Sporting Park with a 2-0 win in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals and advance to the semifinal round for the first time since 1995. After a 81-minute lightning delay, Kickers forward Shaka Bangura connected on a David Bulow cross to net the first goal of the night in the 66th minute. Bulow added a tally of his own when he converted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute, becoming the U.S. Open Cup all-time leading goal scorer to boost the Kickers to a match-up against the Chicago Fire on Tuesday, August 30.
Sporting Kansas City flexed their muscle directly out of the gates, applying pressure early and often throughout the first half. Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was tested in the 19th minute when midfielder Kei Kamara intercepted the ball in the midfield and fed it through to an awaiting Aurelien Collin on the right wing. With plenty of time and space, he served a left-footed cross in the box, searching for Scott Lorenz, but Kickers defender Ryan Heins was lurking nearby and forced the ball into Pascale’s arms.
Four minutes later, Kamara charged down the left flank and played the ball to Lorenz deep on the wing. Battling Ryan Heins to the edge of the box, he beat his mark and slot the ball through traffic, but his close call struck the near post and was cleared by Kickers defender Henry Kalungi.
The unrelenting attack continued to strain the Kickers back line in the 30th minute when defender Michael Harrington floated a well-placed left footed ball into the box from the right side. The bouncing ball was played to the far post where Lorenz was waiting to flick it back into the mix, only to see a Milos Stojcev volley sail inches wide.
The Kickers gained momentum in the 37th minute and pressed forward for the first time in the half. Forward Shaka Bangura collected the ball in the midfield and tried to feed it through to a streaking Nyazamba but the big Zimbabwean could not reach it in time as it glanced wide of the target.
The visitors saw their best two chances of the half thwarted two minutes later. First, Mike Callahan lined up a free kick in the midfield, playing it wide to Sascha Görres, who served a well-placed ball into the box. He had several options prowling at the penalty spot but Collin threw himself into the line of fire with an acrobatic clearance. Then, Heins launched a deep throw-in to the six-yard box, that was cleared out to the top of the box, finding Hertel who’s right-footed volley whistled just wide.
It was the Kickers who struck first after the second half restart when Bangura got the better of his mark at midfield and attempted a low driven ball from distance, but Sporting KC goalkeeper Eric Kronberg dove to his right to collect it in 49th minute.
The Kickers were saved by a pair of ill-directed strikes within a four-minute span. Sporting KC nearly got on the scoreboard in the 60th minute when Stojcev served an accurate ball from the right side to an onrushing Teal Bunbury but his wide open rocket soared skyward.
Four minutes later, defender Matt Besler supplied a decent ball into the box for Omar Bravo, who got the connection, but not the direction as he fired a missile over the crossbar.
With a severe thunderstorm inching closer to LiveSTRONG Sporting Park, a lightning delay was enforced in the 65th minute, resuming play over an hour and 20 minutes later.
After the unexpected break, second-half substitute Luke Vercollone launched a ball in behind the defense, finding Bulow on the right wing. The Kickers midfielder delivered an cross into the box, finding Bangura 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. Getting a touch before Kronberg, Bangura’s first attempt struck the netminder and rebounded back to him, allowing him to flick it into the back of the net, shocking the fans who stuck out the lightning delay.
Throwing everything forward, Sporting KC missed several opportunities to level the score, forcing Pascale to make multiple big saves before the Kickers sealed the victory in the 82nd minute. Midfielder Jamel Wallace was off on a breakway when Collin made a rash challenge inside the box. Bulow stepped up to the spot and converted the resulting penalty kick, making him the sole all-time leading goal scorer in U.S. Open Cup Pro Era history and sending the Kickers to a semifinal in Chicago.
The Richmond Kickers resume regular season play this Saturday, July 16 when they host Antigua Barracuda FC. Returning to Richmond City Stadium, kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Visit RichmondKickers.com for all ticket information.