RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, October 2, 2020) – The Richmond Kickers (6-2-2) get set for three matches in seven days, starting this Saturday night against New England Revolution II (3-6-2) at City Stadium, presented by Impawsible Pups. Gates open up at 5:30 p.m. and kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The match will air live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and on ESPN+. A limited number of tickets are still available at www.richmondkickers.com/Tickets.
This will be the second meeting this season between the two clubs. The Kickers picked up a 2-1 victory at Gillette Stadium back on August 21. Matt Bolduc slipped a pass through for Emiliano Terzaghi to open up the scoring in the 54th minute. Mayele Malango managed to level the score in the 71st minute for New England. Ian Antley dropped in a picture-perfect delivery to pick out Ryley Kraft at the back post in the 82nd minute for the game winner.
Richmond earned a hard fought 1-0 road win last Saturday night at Union Omaha. Both teams entered the locker rooms at halftime level on score, despite Omaha leading on shots taken 12-2. Second half substitute Kraft was fouled to set up a free kick for Richmond in the 71st minute. Kraft curled in a free kick that found Ivan Magalhães for a header and the lone goal of the night. After making four saves in the match, Akira Fitzgerald earned his third clean sheet of the season.
New England is coming off their second-straight road victory, this time at Orlando City B last Saturday. After coming out of halftime with both teams scoreless, it only took Revs II about 30 seconds to get on the board. Tiago Menonca picked out Orlando Sinclair at the back post on a cross from the right wing. Sinclair headed the ball back in front of goal as Justin Rennicks headed his shot over the Orlando keeper and into the back of the net. New England was dealt a blow when former Kickers goalkeeper Joe Rice was forced to come out of the match with an injury in the 66th minute. They did hold on for the clean sheet with Keegan Meyer between the sticks.
The Kickers have a quick turnaround once again this week as they host Orlando City B at City Stadium Wednesday night. This match is set to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. and will air live on WTVR CBS 6.3 and on ESPN+. Fans can still purchase tickets now at www.richmondkickers.com/Tickets.
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Richmond Kickers
Defender Ivan Magalhães (#4) scored the game-winner last Saturday at Omaha off a Ryley Kraft free kick. Combining that with his strong defensive effort against Fort Lauderdale last Wednesday, Magalhães was named the USL League One Player of the Week for Week 11. Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald (#1) earned his third cleansheet of the season after making four saves in the Omaha win. With that, he moved into a tie for second overall in clean sheets in USL League One. Forward Stanley Alves (#9) has started in the last two matches for the Kickers, both of which ended as victories. The rookie signed with the Kickers after four years at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where he scored 13 goals and added four assists.
New England Revolution II
Forward Justin Rennicks (#12) has burst onto the scene for New England, scoring two goals in three matches on loan from the first team. He comes into the team after making six appearances over the last two seasons from the MLS side after signing a homegrown contract prior to the 2019 season. Forward Orlando Sinclair (#99) has picked up an assist in the last two matches for New England, tying him for a team-high. On loan from Deportivo Saprissa in the Costa Rican First Division, he also has one goal this season. Midfielder Nicolas Firmino (#29) sees a lot of the ball for Revs II, leading the team in chances created and key passes with 15 apiece this season. The New England homegrown has two goals and one assist as well.
