RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers and Rochester Raging Rhinos were unable to break the stalemate for first place in the USL standings tonight, battling to a scoreless tie in front of a crowd of 2,651.  Richmond was unable to break down the Rochester defense, despite out-shooting the Rhinos 14-5, live on Fox Soccer Channel. 

 

Although the Kickers controlled play for most of the first half, they were not able to capitalize on several scoring attempts.  Forward Kevin Jeffrey created multiple opportunities including in the 20th minute when forward McColm Cephas one-touched the ball to the right, which found Jeffrey streaking down the right side, open in front of the goal.  Jeffrey’s 10-yard rocket was diverted wide by Rochester goalkeeper Scott Vallow.

 

Jeffrey was involved in a second close call when midfielder Mike Burke sent a cross inside the six-yard line where Jeffrey challenged Vallow for a loose ball, dropped by the keeper.  Richmond midfielder Tim Brown tried to shoot the bouncing ball into the corner of the net but a Rochester defender was at the far post and cleared it out of harm’s way.

 

The Rhinos retaliated in the 34th minute when forward Greg Howes, deep on the left side, sent a dangerous shot on goal but Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was able to make a leaping effort to knock the ball away.

 

Richmond had one last first-half effort to break the ice in the 40th minute when midfielder Sascha Gorres sent a well-positioned cross, finding Cephas in the box.  Cephas won the ball in the air but his header was saved by the woodwork, ricocheting off the right post.

 

A scoreless second half continued with possession mostly in the Kickers favor beginning in the 48th minute when a 28-yard free kick taken by Gorres sailed just out of Cephas’ reach, alone inside the six-yard line, allowing Vallow to corral the ball for the save.

 

The Kickers kept the pressure on despite the unrelenting Rhinos defense as forward Matthew Delicate produced dangerous opportunities in the 67th and and 72nd minutes.  After receiving similar crosses from Burke, his headers glanced off the far post, rebounding just wide of the goal.

 

Ten minutes later, Brown and Vallow collided in the box, deflecting the ball to Ssejjemba, 15 yards out who sent a left-footed strike that was deflected by a Rhinos defender just over the crossbar.

 

The two teams will exchange home field advantage next weekend, when the Kickers travel to Rochester on Saturday, July 30th.  The Kickers return home to face D.C. United of Major League Soccer in the Fourth Round of the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, August 3rd.  Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium. 

 

Box Score      First Half     Second Half      Final
Rochester               0                   0                 0  
Richmond                0                   0                 0    

 

Scoring Summary
None.

Lineups
 Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, Chris Fox, Tony Williams, Peter Luzak, Kevin Knight, Richie Williams, Tim Brown, Kevin Jeffrey (Matthew Delicate – 57th minute), Mike Burke (Robert Ssejjemba – 81st minute), Sascha Gorres (Matt Pauls – 76th minute), McColm Cephas (Chris Carrieri – 57th minute)
 

Rhinos: GK Scott Vallow, Frankie Sanfillippo (Tenywa Bonsen – 55th minute), Jason Perry, Scott Schweitzer, Scott Palguta, Stoian Mladenov, Rene Rivas, Lenin Steenkamp (Pato Aguilera – 61st minute), Jonathan Bolanos, Greg Howes (Jamel Mitchell – 79th minute), Mauro Carabajal (Shaun Tsakiris – 55th minute)

 

Shots              Saves              Fouls              Corners
Rhinos:     5     Rhinos:  2        Rhinos:  14     Rhinos:  1 
Kickers:   14    Kickers:  1        Kickers:  12    Kickers:  7

 

Cautions:
18th minute: Tim Brown (Richmond)
33rd minute: Jonathan Bolanos (Rochester)
68th minute: Tenywa Bonsen (Rochester)
75th minute: Peter Luzak (Richmond)
80th minute: Richie Williams (Richmond)
87th minute: Shaun Tsakiris (Rochester)
89th minute: Robert Ssejjemba (Richmond)

 

Ejections:
None.

 

Referee:  Bahij Salman
Assistant Referees: James Brooks, Shaun Papperman
Fourth Official:  Jack Scureman
Attendance:  2,651
Weather:  Overcast, hot, 90º
First Market Bank Man of the Match: Mike Burke