Kirkland Scores Last Minute Goal, Kickers Fall 2-1 to Forward Madison

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers owned the advantage in shots and possession but fell 2-1 to Forward Madison on Saturday at City Stadium. After falling behind early in the first half, Richmond owned nearly 60% of the possession in the second half and slipped in a last minute goal in stoppage time.

Forward Madison found the breakthrough just two minutes into the match, but Richmond responded by creating several chances of its own, including a header from Dakota Barnathan that forced a save in the 33rd minute. Yann Fillion kept the Kickers within reach with several important stops, including a one-on-one save in the second half. Richmond continued to push late, but Madison’s second goal proved decisive as the Kickers fell 2-1 at home.

Forward Madison was led by Edwin Munjoma who secured the win for the visiting side.

Breaking Down The Action 

• No. 12, Roman Torres, opened the scoring for the visitors in the second minute, 0-1.
• Darwin Espinal cut in from the left and sent a shot across the box in the tenth minute, but it drifted just outside the post.
• Espinal found Landon Johnson inside the box, but his effort sailed just over the net in the 13th minute.
• Madison worked its way into the box and fired toward goal, but Yann Fillion rose to make the save in the 31st minute.
• Richmond earned a corner that found Dakota Barnathan in the middle for a header, but the Madison keeper tipped it away and forced another corner in the 33rd minute.
• Harold Hanson carried the ball up the left side and delivered it into the middle for Johnson, but the goalkeeper came up with the stop in the 36th minute.
• Mujeeb Murana entered for Hanson after an injury in the 41st minute.
• Forward Madison led Richmond 1-0 at halftime.
• Hayden Anderson collected a rebound at the top of the box and chipped an effort over the defense in the 49th minute, but the ball bounced off the crossbar.
• No. 23, Edwin Munjoma, doubled the visitors’ lead in the 58th minute, 0-2.
• Tyler Freeman and Tarik Pannholzer replaced Espinal and Owen O’Malley in the 62nd minute.
• Fillion came off his line and made a diving one-on-one save to deny Madison in the 64th minute.
• Austin Amer and Matt Bolduc came on for Barnathan and Johnson in the 76th minute.
• Pannholzer found Freeman inside the box in the 82nd minute, but his shot was turned away by a diving save from the goalkeeper.
• Pannholzer carried the ball up the left after a long cross and found Amer, whose shot sailed just over the crossbar in the 88th minute.
• Josh Kirkland denied the clean sheet for the visiting side in the 95th minute when he got a rebound and slipped it past the keeper, 2-1.
• The final whistle blew with a score of 2-1, in favor of Forward Madison.

From Coach Ownby:  

On his first Henny Derby at City Stadium:

“We knew the crowd would be ready, I knew the guys would be up for it [and] they were. I loved it, it’s the type of game I wish I could play in seven months. Sad that we couldn’t get them [the fans] the result, a result for the guys but you can’t fault the effort.

Notable Numbers  

Series History  

• The Richmond Kickers now hold a 7-12-2 record against Forward Madison FC all-time.
• The two clubs last faced each other on July 15, 2026, with Madison claiming a 4-0 victory at Breese Stevens Field.
• Saturday marked the 21st rendition of the “Henny Derby” USL1’s most historic rivalry match.

Up Next 

• Richmond travels for a national tv clash against Fort Wayne on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. EST at Ruoff Mortgage Stadium. Get your tickets for Night at the Museums today at richmondkickers.com/tickets and follow all of the action live at @richmondkickers on Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter).