Richmond, VA –  The Richmond Kickers snapped their seven-game home unbeaten streak tonight with a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders.  Left with 10 men on the field after a red card ejection to Richmond midfielder Tim Brown, the Kickers were able to create several scoring opportunities and held the Sounders to a scoreless draw until the 77th minute when Seattle defender Ryan Edwards connected on a corner kick.  Soon after, in the 81st minute, Sounders forward Welton Melo struck after receiving a well-positioned cross to clinch the win for Seattle.   

 

The Kickers and 2004 USL First Division Finalist Seattle met tonight for the first time in Richmond and both teams were evenly matched during the first half of play.  With several scoring opportunities on both ends of the field, Richmond forward Matthew Delicâte created the first close call in the ninth minute when he received the ball inside the box on a cross from midfielder Chris Carrieri; however, Delicâte’s subsequent header sailed just wide of the goal.  Kickers midfielder and tonight’s First Market Bank Man of the Match Mike Burke attempted to score six minutes later with a low shot from 18 yards out towards the left post but the ball soared just wide for a Seattle goal kick.

 

In retaliation, Seattle forward Welton Melo created a dangerous scoring attempt in the 17th minute.  From 25 yards out, Melo’s free kick ricocheted off the woodwork just as Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was able to tip the ball over the goal for the save. 

 

The end of the first half was riddled with injury as both Delicâte and Kickers defender Kevin Knight left the field with wounds to the face, leaving Richmond down to nine men for the final few minutes of the half. 

 

The second half opened with a red card ejection in the 54th minute to Kickers midfielder Tim Brown.  Despite the send-off, the tempo of the game increased and both sides showed attacking moments. 

Seattle narrowly escaped another Richmond scoring attempt in the 75th minute when Burke sent a cross to Delicate deep on the far right flank.  Sounders goalkeeper Preston Burpo was able to make a diving save to smother the shot taken by Delicate.

 

The Kickers were not so lucky two minutes later when Seattle was able to break the scoreless tie when a corner kick taken by Sounders midfielder C.J. Klaas connected with defender Ryan Edwards on the far left side.  Edwards won the ball in the air and sent a header into the back of the net for the Sounders first goal of the night.

 

Soon after, Seattle all but solidified the victory on a counter-attack in the 81st minute when Klaas sent a cross to Melo who slipped behind the defender and one-time volleyed a rocket into the left corner, just past a diving Pascale. 

 

Despite being down 2-nil, the Kickers fought until the final seconds of stoppage time, creating several chances, including a dangerous header by defender Matt Bobo and a 15-yard blast by Delicate in the 90th minute.

 

Regardless of tonight’s loss, the Kickers continue to reside at the top of the USL First Division standings and will return to the University of Richmond Stadium on Saturday, June 11th at 7:00 p.m. to face Atlanta for the third of four matches against the Silverbacks. 

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

 

Scoring Summary
77th minute – Seattle: Ryan Edwards (C.J. Klaas)
81st minute – Seattle: Welton Melo (C.J. Klaas)

 
Lineups
 Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, Matt Bobo, Kevin Knight (Matt Pauls – 82nd minute), Matt O’Toole (Kevin Jeffrey – 61st minute), Peter Luzak, Tim Brown, Richie Williams (Jeff Hare – 82nd minute), Mike Burke, Chris Carrieri (McColm Cephas – 80th minute), Matthew Delicate, Sascha Gorres

Sounders: GK Preston Burpo, Billy Sleeth, Taylor Graham, Ryan Edwards, Zach Scott (Scott Jenkins – 73rd minute), Segare (Brent Whitfield – 60th minute), Ben Somoza (Franklin Chacon – 76th minute), Welton Melo, Roger Levesque

 

Shots                                        Saves                               Fouls                      Corners
Sounders:       13                      Sounders:          4            Sounders:       12     Sounders:         4 
Kickers:           11                      Kickers:              8            Kickers:           14     Kickers:             3

 

Cautions:
52nd minute: Richmond (Tim Brown)
56th minute: Richmond (Richie Williams)
63rd minute: Seattle (Ryan Edwards)

 

Ejections:
54th minute: Richmond (Tim Brown)

 

Referee:  Jeff Gontarek 
Assistant Referees: Andrew Chapin, Ben Jones 
Fourth Official:  Chris Miller
Attendance:  2,411 
Weather:  Overcast, 73◦
First Market Bank Man of the Match: Mike Burke