Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
Friday, August 19, 2011
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Richmond Kickers advanced to the USL PRO American Division Final after winning a penalty shooutout 5-4 against the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium on Friday night after the two teams had played to a 0-0 draw through regulation and overtime.
Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale made the decisive save in the fifth round of the shootout, diving to his left to turn Chris Bagley's shot onto the post and send his side through after the previous five Richmond shooters and four Wilmington shooters had all converted from the spot.
Neither side was able to break through in regulation or overtime, resulting in the shootout. The first half mirrored the last meeting between the Hammerheads and the Kickers, just over a week ago on August 10th, as both teams struggled to capitalize on offensive opportunities. The first strong effort on goal came from the Hammerhead’s Andryi Budnyy in the fourth minute when he fired a shot on goal, but was deflected Pascale, then cleared by Richmond’s defense.
In the 10th minute, the Hammerheads received a free kick right outside of Richmond’s penalty area but the attempt was not rewarded with a goal.
The Kicker’s had a strong attempt on goal in the 15th minute when forward Stanley Nyzamba controlled a tough through-ball in the right side of the penalty area and fired at Hammerheads goalkeeper Brock Duckworth. The rookie was unable to control the save, but his parry was cleared out of the danger area by a Hammerheads defender.
The majority of the first half was marked by patient, possession-oriented play in the midfield and the game went to the break scoreless. As the second half began, though, the pace picked up as both sides tried to find more scoring chances.
In the 56th minute Wilmington defender Tom Parratt had the first good shot on goal but fired over the crossbar. The attacks kept coming from both sides but neither team could break the 0-0 tie.
As the end of regulation time approached, the intensity was elevated even further as both teams tried to avoid overtime. Despite several strong bids neither team was able to break the stalemate, the Hammerheads' only quality shot coming on a strong low shot by Bagley in 88th minute that was turned aside by Pascale. The Kickers answered right back in the 89th minute with a breakaway by Edson Elcock but Duckworth came up with of his five saves of the contest to keep the Kickers off the scoreboard and send the game to overtime, and in turn a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, both teams connected on their first four shots, although Pascale almost saved Andres Cuero's effort in the fourth round. Richmond's Shaka Bangura then gave Richmond the lead with a successful penalty to open the fifth round before Pascale turned away Bagley’s attempt.
The Kickers will face the winner of Orlando City and the Charleston Battery, who play in the other American Division Semifinal on Saturday night at the Florida Citrus Bowl, next weekend for a place in the USL PRO Championship Game.