RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, May 31, 2016) – U.S. Open Cup action continues this Wednesday, June 1 when the Richmond Kickers travel to take on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League (NASL) at 11:00 a.m. Live updates from Broward College – South Campus will be available at Twitter.com/RichmondKickers.
The Kickers enter Wednesday’s match following a 4-0 win over USASA side Aromas Café FC in the U.S. Open Cup Second Round on May 18. Midfielder Sunny Jane scored off a free kick just two minutes into the match and Hugh Roberts added another in the 25th minute, to carry a 2-0 lead into the break. Minutes into the second half, Anthony Grant upped the home side’s lead before Luiz Fernando added his first goal in a Kickers uniform in the 83rd minute to cap the 4-0 victory.
The 2016 season marks the 18th time the Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 23 seasons, with an overall record of 29-16 during tournament play. The Kickers claimed the U.S. Open Cup title the first year of the Professional Era in 1995 and have since made it to the quarterfinal round five times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011) and the semifinal round twice (1995, 2011). Ousting five Major League Soccer teams along the way, including Colorado Rapids in 2000, D.C. United in 2004, LA Galaxy in 2007 and Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City in 2011, the Kickers became the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road.
Making their 2016 tournament debut this week, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers carry a 7-9 all-time U.S. Open Cup record into Wednesday’s match. Most recently, they were upset by the Charleston Battery in the Third Round of the 2015 tournament, dropping a 3-2 loss on the road.
As one of the members of the original NASL, the Strikers have a history that dates back to 1977. After nearly three decades, the club was reincarnated as Miami FC in 2006 before rebranding to the Strikers prior to the 2009 season. Finishing as NASL Finalists twice (2011, 2014), the club made international headlines when Brazilian legend Ronaldo joined their ownership group last year.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 102 consecutive years dating from 1914.
The winner of Wednesday’s match will travel to D.C. United of Major League Soccer for the U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round on Wednesday, June 15.
