RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, April 28, 2016) – The Richmond Kickers (2-2-1) return to City Stadium this Saturday, April 30 to host Toronto FC II (1-1-2) and Bike RVA Fest. The party starts at 5:30 p.m. with live music by Jive45, free bike valet presented by I Am RVA, a 3Sports pop-up shop, RVA food trucks and a dozen craft beers and ciders on tap before the Kickers pro game kicks off at 7:00 p.m.* Tickets are on sale now for $12.00 and fans who bike to City Stadium can purchase tickets for $8.00 at www.richmondkickers.com.
The Kickers take on the second year franchise for the first time this season after exchanging home and home 2-1 victories last season. Last season’s two-game series opened in August when the Kickers claimed a second half advantage when Yudai Imura nodded home his first professional goal but Toronto’s Molham Babouli leveled the score before stoppage time heroics lifted the home side to victory. Swapping home field advantage one month later, the Kickers edged Toronto in similar fashion when Jason Yeisley’s opening goal was annulled by Luca Uccello before a second half tally handed the Kickers the full three points.
The Kickers look to return to winning ways following a two-game slide on the road this month. Most recently, late game dramatics and a controversial penalty call handed the Charlotte Independence a 3-2 victory over the Richmond Kickers last Friday night. Kickers midfielder Sunny Jane earned the visitors an early lead before conceding a pair of Independence 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 converted the stoppage time penalty.
Meanwhile, Toronto suffered a 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati last time out after a Raheem Edwards tally gave them the lead just before halftime but could not recover from a pair of Cincinnati second half goals.
Saturday’s match kicks off a three-game series between the two clubs with the Kickers traveling to the Ontario Soccer Center on May 11 before returning to City Stadium on July 23.
Players to Watch
Kickers: Newcomer Sunny Jane (#10) notched his first goal in a Kickers uniform in Charlotte last week, burying a blistering 25-yard shot to open scoring on the road. The Lesotho National Team forward signed with Richmond prior to the 2016 season after a two-year stint with the Wilmington Hammerheads. Starting four of the Kickers first five matches this season, Lucas Paulini (#15) anchored the midfield in back-to-back shutouts against Wilmington and Rochester to open his first campaign in Richmond. The midfielder made 55 appearances over four seasons with North American Soccer League side Atlanta Silverbacks before impressing at the Kickers pro tryouts in January. Discovered during a coaching staff scouting trip with reigning Brazilian Champions S.C. Corinthians in São Paulo last fall, Luiz Fernando Nascimento (#11) has appeared in all five matches to start the season, earning a spot on the starting lineup on two occasions. Joining Corinthians as a homegrown youth player and a regular starter with the Corinthians U20s, the eighteen-year old also featured regularly with AA Flamengo before signing with the Kickers.
TFC II: Called up to Toronto FC II from the Kia Toronto FC Senior Academy in August 2015, midfielder Raheem Edwards (#48) has made an immediate impact for the USL side during his sophomore season, tallying four goals in four games to start the 2016 campaign. The Canada U23 midfielder has already matched the goal total of TFC II’s top goal scorer last season, residing in third place in the league with eight points. In his second professional season, defender Wesley Charpie (#32) anchors the TFC II back line. Drafted by Toronto FC in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, he logged 1,634 with TFC II last season and notched one assist in the club’s 2-1 win over Richmond in August. On loan from the Toronto FC First Team, goalkeeper Quillan Roberts (#40) became the seventh Academy player to graduate to the senior team in 2012. After spending the majority of the 2014 season on loan with the Wilmington Hammerheads, he backstopped TFC II to four shutouts in 15 appearances last season.
*Please Note: The kickoff time for the Kickers versus Toronto match on Saturday, April 30 has changed to 7:00 p.m. Game time was previously scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
