RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, May 19, 2016) – The Richmond Kickers (4-3-2) return to City Stadium this Saturday, May 21 to host Louisville City FC (6-1-2) and Food Truck Fest. The party begins at 5:30 p.m. with live music by Kurt Stemhagen and over a dozen craft beers and ciders on tap. RVA’s iconic food trucks will highlight the event with local favorites including Carytown Burgers & Fries, Sticks Kebob Shop, Continental Divide, Relay Foods, Bon Bon, Goatacado, Port ‘o Call, Kava Kava Gourmet, Grapevine and Mr. Softee and the Kickers pro game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
The Kickers return to regular season action this Saturday following a midweek 4-0 win over USASA side Aromas Café FC in the U.S. Open Cup Second Round on Wednesday. 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.
Previously, the Kickers snapped a three-game road slide with a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls II last week. Conceding a goal with 20 minutes remaining in regulation, Alex Lee connected with Brian Ownby who nodded home a last-gasp equalizer in the 90th minute to claim a crucial point on the road.
Meanwhile, the league-leading Louisville City extended their unbeaten streak to eight games after taking their US Open Cup Second Round match against Detroit City FC to penalties on Wednesday. Four days earlier, City maintained their lead at the top of the USL table with a 2-0 win over Saint Louis FC courtesy of a pair of second half goals by former Kickers midfielder George Davis IV and Cameron Lancaster.
The Kickers and Louisville close out the two game, home and away series at Louisville Slugger Field on Saturday, September 10.
Players to Watch
Kickers: Newcomer Sunny Jane (#10) notched his second goal in a Kickers uniform, with the opening tally in the 2nd minute in the Kickers 4-0 win over Aromas Café FC in the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup this week. The Lesotho National Team forward signed with Richmond prior to the 2016 season after a two-year stint with the Wilmington Hammerheads. Discovered at the Kickers January tryouts and earning his first professional contract, Jackson Eskay (#24) made his professional debut this week in the Kickers 4-0 U.S. Open Cup win over Aromas Café FC. Recently concluding his career at The College of William and Mary, he led the Tribe with six goals and eight assists in 17 appearances as team captain his senior year. Following a season-ending injury to Kickers starting goalkeeper Ryan Taylor, Charlie Horton (#30) made his first appearance in goal in Richmond on Wednesday, on loan from the club’s Major League Soccer affiliate, D.C. United. The 21-year old was acquired from the New England Revolution prior to the 2016 season after a recent stint with English Championship side, Leeds United.
City: Former Kickers midfielder George Davis IV (#22) returns to City Stadium after scoring his first goal in a Louisville jersey last week in the club’s 2-0 win against Saint Louis FC. Finishing second on the team in 2015 with nine goals and three assists, he made 62 appearances and amassed 23 goals over two seasons in Richmond before signing with Louisville prior to the 2016 campaign. Defender Conor Shanosky (#5) made 35 appearances over two seasons with the Kickers while on loan from the club’s MLS affiliate, D.C. United. Integral on both sides of the ball, he has made seven appearances in Louisville this season, adding one goal while contributing to three shutouts. Louisville newcomer Chandler Hoffman (#17) leads the team with seven goals in nine games including a hat trick to edge FC Cincinnati 3-2 last month. Prior to signing with Louisville, he made 29 Major League Soccer appearances through stints with LA Galaxy, Philadelphia Union and Houston Dynamo.
