GAME SUMMARY
Friday, April 22, 2016 Ramblewood Soccer Complex
Charlotte Independence 3 (Calvert 43’, Martinez 77’, Herrera 90+’)
Richmond Kickers 2 (Jane 20, Delicâte 89’)
CHARLOTTE, NC – Late game dramatics and a last-second penalty call handed the Charlotte Independence a 3-2 victory over the Richmond Kickers on the road Friday night. Kickers midfielder Sunny Jane earned the visitors an early lead before Caleb Calvert and Enzo Martinez gave the Independence the advantage with goals on either side of the half. Kickers all-time leading scorer Matthew Delicâte leveled the score in the final minute of regulation before Charlotte veteran Jorge Herrera converted the stoppage time penalty.
After weathering torrential rain and a barrage of Richmond corner kicks within the first 15 minutes, the Independence retaliated when defender Joel Johnson fed a through ball to David Estrada on the right wing who chipped the ball over a swarming box only to be shut down by Kickers defender Hugh Roberts at the top of the six yard box. The rebound fell to Martinez who floated a cross back to the penalty spot, finding Calvert at the penalty spot but his side volley skied over the bar.
The Kickers broke the ice four minutes later when Calvert gathered the ball deep in Charlotte territory and launched a long ball through the midfield. Kickers midfielder Fred Owusu Sekyere intercepted it and headed it to Brian Ownby who settled it for Jane. Eluding his defender, he lined up a 25-yard blast, catching Charlotte goalkeeper Cody Mizzell off his line and burying his first goal in a Kickers uniform inside the right corner.
Kickers goalkeeper Ryan Taylor was called into action in the 29th minute when a poor clearance in the midfield fell to Martinez who muscled past his mark and blasted a distance shot but Taylor’s kick save at the right post denied his effort.
Later, Owusu stripped the ball at the midline and played Jason Yeisley through the defense. The Kickers forward raced towards the box before rocketing a shot on target that glanced just past the goalkeeper’s outstretched fingertips and over the crossbar.
The first half action did not end there as Charlotte leveled the score with two minutes remaining before the break. A Kickers’ corner was stifled by Mizzell who played the ball wide to Brian Brown. A give and go with Patrick Slogic freed the Independence forward on the left wing, leaving him with just one defender to beat before slicing a cross along the top of the six yard box finding Calvert lurking at the back post for an easy tap in finish.
A slow second half restart gave way to an eventful conclusion beginning in the 70th minute when Yeisley scooped up a loose ball at the top of the box, rounded the defense to the left post before playing it back to an unmarked Ownby whose left-footed shot beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by Slogic.
Aguilar collected the rebound and dashed back to the left post before lofting a cross to Yeisley at the opposite upright but the Kickers forward was heavily marked as Mizzell smothered the point blank attempt. Seconds later, Aguilar sliced through the defense and floated a cross to Yeisley at the back post who nodded it to an onrushing Luiz Fernando who rocketed a left-footed shot that was deflected just wide.
The momentum quickly shifted three minutes later when Martinez teed up an inswinging corner kick, forcing Taylor to make a sweeping save to bat the ball from harm’s way before falling awkwardly and leaving the match with a grave injury. Eighteen-year old Richmond United Academy goalkeeper Sawyer Gaffney was called up to replace him for the final 15 minutes and was immediately punished after a drop ball found its way to veteran midfielder Jorge Hererra in the midfield. Hererra fed a leading ball to Martinez whose blistering shot from 20 yards out rendered the young keeper helpless.
Seemingly all was not lost as Delicâte entered the match with minutes to spare, making an immediate impact with a last-gasp tally. Roberts delivered a long throw in from the right touchline into the crowded box, finding Fernando who flicked the ball onto a heavily marked Yeisley six yards out. With his back to goal, he redirected it into the path of Delicâte who calmly punched home the 89th minute equalizer.
Then, a contentious penalty was awarded in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Jun Marques Davidson slipped 12 yards out, drawing a controversial foul in the box. With a quick stutter step, Herrera made no mistake with a low driven shot inside the right post to give the home side the full three points seconds before the final whistle.
The Richmond Kickers return to City Stadium to host Toronto FC II and Bike RVA Fest on Saturday, April 30. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
Box Score First Half Second Half Final
Charlotte 1 2 3
Richmond 1 1 2
Scoring Summary
20th minute: Sunny Jane (Brian Ownby)
43rd minute: Caleb Calvert (Brian Brown)
77th minute: Enzo Martinez (Jorge Herrera)
89th minute: Matthew Delicate (Jason Yeisley)
90th minute: Jorge Herrera (Penalty)
Lineups
Independence: GK Cody Mizzell, Bilal Duckett, Patrick Slogic, Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi, Jun Marques Davidson, Yann Ekra (Jorge Herrera – 72’), Enzo Martinez (Lewis Hilton – 81’), Caleb Calvert (Jack Metcalf – 86’), Brian Brown (Alec Bartlett – 89’), David Estrada
Kickers: GK Ryan Taylor (Sawyer Gaffney – 76’), Hugh Roberts, Jalen Robinson, William Yomby, Braeden Troyer, Sunny Jane (Luiz Fernando Nascimento – 62’), Michael Callahan (Matthew Delicâte – 85’), Brian Ownby, Miguel Aguilar, Yudai Imura (Fred Owusu Sekyere – 14’ (Anthony Grant – 89’)), Jason Yeisley
Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Kickers: 12 Kickers: 4 Kickers: 16 Kickers: 6
Independence: 14 Independence: 1 Independence: 8 Independence: 6
Cautions:
26th minute: Fred Owusu Sekyere (Richmond)
54th minute: Joel Johnson (Charlotte)
61st minute: Brian Brown (Charlotte)
86th minute: Jason Yeisley (Richmond)
90th minute: Cody Mizzell (Charlotte)
Ejections:
None.
Referee: David Erbacher
Assistant Referees: Benjamin Jackson, Gregory Brigman
Fourth Official: Rick Rogers
Attendance: 1,239
Weather: Rain, 55º
