GAME SUMMARY
Saturday, May 2, 2015 Richmond City Stadium
Richmond Kickers 2 (Ownby 32’, Delicâte 79’)
Charleston Battery 2 (Prince 48’, Garbanzo 49’)
RICHMOND, VA – End-to-end excitement saw the 53rd match-up between the Richmond Kickers and the Charleston Battery end in a 2-2 draw at City Stadium Saturday night. Brian Ownby gave the Kickers a first half lead but the Battery responded with two quick goals by Zach Prince and Ricky Garbanzo after the break, forcing Richmond’s all-time leading scorer, Matthew Delicâte, into action late in the game as both teams remain undefeated.
The Battery tested Richmond Kickers goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg early when a few nonchalant shots grazed the 18-yard box directly out of the gates, but it was not until the 24th minute that Charleston nearly capitalized. Midfielder Zach Prince lined up a free kick on the left edge of the box and served up a bending ball that skimmed the head of defender Shawn Ferguson before being cleared out for a corner.
Weathering the offensive storm, the Kickers struck first, taking the lead just past the half hour mark. Michael Callahan eluded defenders through the midfield and switched the ball to Luke Mishu on the far right flank. The defender drove a pass down the touchline to a heavily marked Alex Lee who split his defenders and sliced a low cross into the box where a lurking Brian Ownby made no mistake from point blank range.
Looking for a second just before the break, Callahan teamed up with Eli Garner for a give and go to break free inside the box but Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper read the play and lunged to scoop up the low shot.
The home side’s celebrations were short lived as the Battery popped them with a pair of goals in rapid fire succession within three minutes of the halftime break.
First, Dane Kelly chased down a loose ball, forcing Kickers defenders to clear it over the line to earn a corner kick. Van Schaik delivered an inswinger into the box, finding Prince in the fray who calmly nodded home the equalizer in the 48th minute.
Following the restart, a defensive error proved beneficial for Charleston who took the lead seconds later. A long ball was intercepted in the midfield and collected by Battery midfielder Maikel Chang who poked a right footed curving shot between two defenders. A poor clearance ricocheted off the back of an onrushing Garbanzo and beat the unsuspecting Spangenberg just inside the right post.
With three points on the line, the Kickers missed the chance to level the score in the 72nd minute when William Yomby served a long ball into the box. Jason Yeisley challenged for control in the air, forcing Cooper to punch the ball directly to Ownby but he one-timed it just wide.
Five minutes later, Ownby’s throw in on the left touchline pinged around the box before rebounding out to Görres who chested it down, eluded three defenders and lofted a cross to the far post. Ownby and Yomby sandwiched the Battery goalkeeper who managed to parry it just wide. Görres teed up the corner kick and paired up with his longtime scoring partner, Delicâte, to head the ball into the upper 90 with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
With the score knotted up once again and five minutes of stoppage time awarded, the Kickers nearly stole all three points when Samuel Asante fed the ball through to Yeisley who played it back to Görres. A leading cross connected with an onrushing Fred Owusu Sekyere who launched a laser strike from 40 yards out that tipped the crossbar before Cooper recovered to send the teams home with a one point apiece.
The Richmond Kickers embark on a two-game road trip to the Charlotte Independence on May 8 and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on May 16 before returning to City Stadium to host the U.S. Open Cup Second Round on Wednesday, May 20. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
Box Score First Half Second Half Final
Richmond 1 1 2
Charleston 0 2 2
Scoring Summary
32nd minute: Richmond: Brian Ownby (Alex Lee)
48th minute: Charleston: Zach Prince (Jarad van Schaik)
49th minute: Charleston: Ricky Garbanzo
79th minute: Richmond: Matthew Delicâte (Sascha Görres)
Lineups
Kickers: GK Trevor Spangenberg, Braedon Troyer, William Yomby, Jalen Robinson, Luke Mishu (Jason Yeisley – 68’), Samuel Asante, Michael Callahan (Sascha Görres – 68’), Alex Lee (Fred Owusu Sekyere – 77’), Brian Ownby, George Davis IV (Hugh Roberts – 89’), Eli Garner (Matthew Delicâte – 62’)
Battery: GK Odisnel Cooper, O’Brian Woodbine, Taylor Mueller, Shawn Ferguson, Emmanuel Adjetey, Jarad van Schaik, Sebastian Thurier (Justin Portillo – 88”), Zach Prince, Maikel Chang, Ricky Garbanzo (Memo Rodriguez – 58’), Dane Kelly (Heviel Cordoves – 70’)
Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Battery: 9 Battery: 4 Battery: 14 Battery: 2
Kickers: 9 Kickers: 3 Kickers: 10 Kickers: 4
Cautions:
90th minute: O’Brian Woodbine (Charleston)
Ejections:
None.
Referee: Matthew Kreitzer
Assistant Referees: Jimmy Brooks, Michael Piercey
Fourth Official: Mike D’Angelo
Attendance: 3,163
Weather: Partly cloudy, 75º
