GAME SUMMARY

Saturday, April 21, 2007   University of Richmond Stadium

Richmond Kickers     2 (Burke 71’, Görres 82’) 
Cincinnati Kings          0 

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers opened the 2007 regular season with a 2-0 victory over the Cincinnati Kings in front of 3,426.  A scoreless first half gave way to two goals in the final 20 minutes of the match by Kickers midfielders Mike Burke and Sascha Görres in the 71st and 82nd minutes respectively. 

The Kickers applied pressure from the beginning when midfielder Matthew Watson sent a ball through to a streaking Ssejjemba at the right corner of the box but his shot was smothered by Kings goalkeeper Craig Salvati in the 4th minute. 

Cincinnati retaliated in the 18th minute when forward Mike McGinlay carried the ball down the left flank, eluding Kickers defenders at the top of the box. His shot was directly on goal but Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was able to make the stop.

The 21st minute saw Ssejjemba again in the box, escaping defenders while passing the ball back to Burke deep on the right wing.  Burke’s high cross returned to Ssejjemba in the air at the penalty spot but his high header sailed just wide of the target.

The stalemate was finally broken in the 71st minute when rookie midfielder Evan Harding sent a long ball to the top of the box, finding Burke who faked out the defenders in the six yard box.  His low shot slipped past a diving Salvati into the back of the net.

Ten minutes later, the Kickers doubled the score when Watson drew a foul, resulting in a free kick, deep in the right corner.  Görres took the shot, bending a bouncing ball into the low far corner of the net for the final tally of the night.

The Kickers return to the University of Richmond Stadium next Saturday, April 28th for Family Fitness Night as the Kickers host the New Hampshire Phantoms.  Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m., gates open at 6:00 p.m.  Train like the pros with the Kickers official Speed & Conditioning Coach Reed Kagan.  Register your child (ages 8-12) during the first half of next week’s game to participate in a training session on the field during halftime.  Order tickets in advance to the Kickers next home game via RichmondKickers.com and save $2.00.

Box Score      First Half     Second Half          Final
Richmond            0                     0                        0
Cincinnati            0                      2                        2

Scoring Summary
71st minute – Richmond: Mike Burke (Evan Harding)
82nd minute – Richmond: Sascha Görres

Lineups
Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, D Stephen Wolfe, D Trevor McEachron, D Kelvin Jones, D Kevin Knight, M Sascha Görres, M Trey Alexander (Charlie Howe – 60th minute), M Mike Burke (Ihor Dotsenko – 78th minute), M Nowaf Jaman (Evan Harding – 60th minute), F Matt Watson, F Robert Ssejjemba (Ricky Schramm – 89th minute)

Kings: GK Craig Salvati, D Kevin McCloskey, D Ashleigh Townsend, D Sam Fiore, D Jake Slemker, M Romain Cheurlin (Kwame Sarkodie – 75th minute), M Brett Jones, M Florent Rainy (Sam Miller – 88th minute), M Phillip Glaser (Tim Brown – 75th minute), F Mike McGinlay, F Thies Herman (Nathan Micklos – 69th minute)

Shots                    Saves                Fouls                   Corners
Kickers:  4            Kickers:  4         Kickers  12        Kickers:  0
Kings:  10             Kings:  1            Kings:  12          Kings:  1

Cautions:
18th minute: Kevin McCloskey (Cincinnati)
26th minute: Robert Ssejjemba (Richmond)
60th minute: Brett Jones (Cincinnati)
81st minute: Jake Slemker (Cincinnati)
87th minute: Florent Raimy (Cincinnati)

Ejections:
None.

Referee:    Andrew Chapin
Assistant Referees:   George Vergara, James Brooks
Fourth Official:    Kyle Falce
Attendance:    3,426
First Market Bank Man of the Match:  Mike Burke
Weather:    Warm, 75º