MATCH INFORMATION
Ottawa Fury FC (2-3-3) vs Richmond Kickers (2-4-4)
DATE: Saturday, May 27, 2017
KICKOFF: 2:00 p.m.
STADIUM: TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: WTVR CBS 6 (Comcast 9 SD/ 212 HD, Verizon 6 SD/ 506 HD and DirecTV 6)
ONLINE: USL Matchcenter
HASHTAG: #OTTvRIC
TWITTER: @RichmondKickers and @OttawaFuryFC
PREVIEW
RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, May 26, 2017) – The Richmond Kickers (2-4-4) will conclude their three-match road trip as they travel to face Ottawa Fury FC (2-3-3) this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. As a part of the landmark TV deal with WTVR CBS 6, this match will be available live on the main 6.1 channel in the Richmond metro area (Comcast 9 SD/ 212 HD, Verizon FiOS 6 SD / 506 HD and DirecTV 6) and streamed online through the USL Matchcenter.
Saturday’s match will mark the second-ever meeting between the Kickers and the Fury. 2017 is the first season for Ottawa in the USL after making the move from the NASL following the 2016 season. In the reverse fixture, Ottawa traveled to City Stadium on April 15 and walked away with all three points after forward Steevan Dos Santos scored on a one-time volley from midfield in the 79th minute. This meeting will be the first-ever trip for the Kickers to Ottawa in any competition as the Kickers look to conclude their road trip on a high note.
The Kickers extended their league unbeaten streak to four matches Wednesday afternoon after a 0-0 draw at Toronto FC II. Richmond earned their second clean sheet in three matches (third overall shutout in 2017) as they claimed their first-ever point at Toronto, having lost the previous two meetings at the Ontario Soccer Centre. TFCII played the final 30 minutes down a player after Anthony Osorio was sent off with a straight red card in the 60th minute. Prior to Wednesday’s match in Toronto, the Kickers stole a point at long-time rivals Rochester Rhinos Sunday evening. Rochester opened the scoring in the 32nd minute as Kenardo Forbes slipped through the Kickers defense to slot home the goal. Raul Gonzalez drew the Kickers level just before halftime, converting on a free kick opportunity from about 30 yards out toward the near post before the Rhinos goalkeeper could get a hand to it, notching both his first goal for the Kickers and his first professional goal.
Ottawa comes into Saturday’s match on the heels of a 2-1 win in the first leg of the Canadian Championship Semifinal over Toronto FC of Major League Soccer Tuesday night. Trailing 0-1 at the half, Ryan Williams would convert a penalty in the 52nd minute followed by Sito Seoane getting the game winner in the 72nd minute to give the Fury the advantage going into the second leg. In their last USL action, the Fury took a dramatic 4-3 victory on the road at the New York Red Bulls II May 20. On loan from Ottawa’s MLS affiliate club, the Montreal Impact Michael Salazar leveled the score for Ottawa in the 87th minute at 3-3, having already notched an assist on Sito’s 51st minute goal. Just before the clock hit 90, Tucker Hume was brought down inside the New York box, winning Ottawa a late penalty that Williams would convert for the game winner.
The Kickers return home to City Stadium next Saturday, June 3 to host the defending 2016 USL Cup Champions New York Red Bulls II and the Kickers Fiesta, presented by Chicken Fiesta. The party starts at 5:30 p.m. with live Salsa music, all-you-can-eat Chicken Fiesta Taco Bar and Modelo on tap for just $22. Then, the Kickers take the field to take on Red Bulls II at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond: On loan from the New England Revolution, goalkeeper Matt Turner (#30) recorded his second clean sheet in three matches after making eight appearances for Richmond in 2017. Heading into Saturday’s match, the Fairfield University product currently has a GAA of 0.70, allowing just six goals. Turner played in 11 matches in 2016 while on loan to the Kickers, allowing just seven goals. Returning to the Kickers lineup following a finalist finish at the CONCACAF U17 Championships and scoring a goal against Jamaica, Chris Durkin (#21) played 90 minutes in the shutout draw at Toronto FC II Wednesday. The D.C. United loanee has played every minute of his four appearances creating two scoring chances. Joining the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club at the age of 8, Durkin would end up splitting his time between the Richmond United Academy and the D.C. United Academy before signing with United as their youngest homegrown signing in club history. Playing in his second season in Richmond, forward Luiz Fernando (#71) has made six starts in nine appearances in 2017. In his first season with the Kickers, Fernando netted two goals and had an assist in 24 games. Being discovered by the coaching staff after a trip to S.C. Corinthians, Fernando signed with Richmond following a career where he featured with the Corinthians U20s and AA Flamengo.
Ottawa: Midfielder Ryan Williams (#7) enters Saturday’s match leading Ottawa in scoring with two goals in their first season since moving to the USL in the offseason. Williams converted a penalty kick in stoppage time to seal a 4-3 road win over New York Red Bulls II in Ottawa’s last league match May 20. The Birkenhead, England native joined the then-NASL Ottawa Fury FC in July of 2016 after a short stint with Scottish Premiership side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, making seven appearances. Signing with Ottawa before the 2017 USL season, forward Steevan Dos Santos (#8) has played in six games, with five starts. His only goal came at Richmond’s expense on April 15 taking a one-time shot on the volley to beat goalkeeper Matt Turner from midfield, on Ottawa’s only shot on goal of the game. Dos Santos spent the previous two seasons with the Rochester Rhinos, scoring 17 goals over 48 games. He featured for the Cape Verde national team in a match against Catalonia in December 2013. Goalkeeper Callum Irving (#1) is in his first season with Ottawa, playing in all eight matches for the Fury conceding 10 goals and collecting three clean sheets. After not being selected in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, the University of Kentucky product signed with the Rio Grande Valley Toros, making 14 appearances and recording eight shutouts. Irving would get his first call up to the Canadian National Team in January 2016, earning his first cap in a 4-2 win over Bermuda on January 22, 2017.
MEDIA RESOURCES
TEAM WEBSITES: www.richmondkickers.com and OttawaFuryFC.com
USL (LEAGUE) WEBSITE: USLsoccer.com
GAME NOTES: #OTTvRIC
PHOTOS (PREGAME USE): #OTTvRIC Photos (Additional Photos Available Upon Request)
