MATCH INFORMATION
Richmond Kickers (7-14-8) vs Orlando City B (9-8-12)
2017 USL Regular Season
Date: Sunday, October 1, 2017
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m.
Stadium: City Stadium, Richmond, VA
All-Time Series: 2-1-1
At Richmond: 1-1-0
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: None
Online: USL Match Center
Hashtag: #RICvORL
Twitter: @RichmondKickers and @OrlandoCityB
RICHMOND, VA — (Friday, September 29, 2017) — The Richmond Kickers (7-14-8) close out their 2017 home slate this Sunday as they host Orlando City B (9-8-12) at City Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. and can be streamed online through the USL Match Center. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. to prove that RVA is RED with live music by the Hit List, RVA food trucks and over 20 craft beers on tap. Fans that wear red to the match can have a beer on us. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
Heading into the third and final meeting of the 2017 season, the Kickers hold a 2-1-1 advantage in the overall series over OCB. The clubs first met back on August 12 at City Stadium, where the visitors escaped with all three points after Pierre Da Silva was able to find Hadji Barry at the top of the box and he calmly put the ball past Matt Turner. Richmond would seek revenge September 7, claiming a victory at Orlando City Stadium as Mikey Minutillo scored his first goal for the Kickers followed by Sunny Jane converting a free kick opportunity just before halftime as the Kickers earned their first road victory of the season.
Richmond will look to continue with their winning ways after claiming a 1-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos last Saturday night at City Stadium. Travis Worra picked up his first-ever career assist in the 80th minute as he picked out Mikey Minutillo making a well-timed run in behind the Rhinos backline. Minutillo was able to get enough of a tough around the defender to get a shot off and find the back of the net for his second goal of the season, and the game winner. Worra earned his third shutout of the season, and the team’s sixth.
Orlando City B took a dramatic victory at home, claiming a 2-1 win over the Charleston Battery last Saturday. Lewis Neal fed the ball up for Pierre Da Silva and he let a shot go from about 30 yards out to open up the scoring in the 31st minute. Charleston clawed their way back into the match, leveling the score in the 81st minute through Heviel Cordoves. Neal would come to the rescue for OCB in the 87th minute as he put away a shot by Timbo that was initially saved by the Battery to seal the victory.
The Kickers will hit the road for two road matches to close out their 25th anniversary season, first traveling to Saint Louis FC Saturday, October 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. A week later the Kickers will finish off the season as they take a trip to Louisville Slugger Field to take on Louisville City FC. Both matches will be available live on the Kickers official television partners WTVR CBS 6 via their 6.3 sub channel (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) on on the USL Match Center. Keep up to date with the Kickers online at www.richmondkickers.com and on social media through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond: Named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 27, team captain William Yomby (#2) helped the Kickers to their sixth shutout of the 2017 season after the 1-0 win over the Rochester Rhinos last Saturday night. The Cameroonian defender joined the Kickers in 2009, making 235 appearances and scoring 11 goals while adding five assists during his time in Richmond. Forward Mikey Minutillo (#20) scored his second goal of the season in the Kickers last outing against Rochester. His first goal came on the road against this same Orlando team as Richmond took their first road win of the season. The Penn State product has made 11 appearances, including five starts since joining the Kickers after the start of the season. Midfielder Fred Owusu Sekyere (#4) leads the team in assists with three this season along with scoring two goals. The former VCU Ram is in his third season with the Kickers where he has played in 83 games since joining the Kickers.
Orlando: Midfielder Lewis Neal (#24) was named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 27 after scoring assisting on the opening goal and then scoring a late game winner at home against the Charleston Battery last Saturday. Captaining OCB since re-signing with Orlando City SC, Neal has scored two goals over 21 games this season. Leading OCB in scoring this season, forward Hadji Barry (#13) has found the back of the net on eight occasions through 15 games this season. Now in his second season with Orlando City SC, Barry was drafted 13th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Central Florida. Midfielder Pierre Da Silva (#98) has scored three goals in 23 appearances this season, including the second goal during the home win for OCB over Charleston. Featuring in the Orlando City Pro Academy, Da Silva joined OCB in 2016.
