The Rise to the Occasion Match Preview is presented by Great Harvest Bread Co.
Match Information
Richmond Kickers vs North Carolina FC
City Stadium, Richmond, Va.
Saturday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Broadcast Information
Internet: ESPN+
TV (Local): WTVR CBS 6.3
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers (2-2-0) are back at City Stadium to take on North Carolina FC (0-2-0), Saturday night, May 22 at City Stadium. Kickoff for this match is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
Richmond is coming off a return to form after a 2-0 win against Tormenta which saw Emiliano Terzaghi score two goals in the last 10 minutes of the match. Richmond is now rested after having a week off and ready to see Terzaghi and the squad firing on all cylinders again. Richmond registered 11 shots and six on target against Tormenta. Victor Falck was a rock in the midfield with an 89.7% passing accuracy and three interceptions.
North Carolina most recently played Forward Madison to what seemed like it would be a scoreless draw until the stoppage-time winner from Madison’s Derek Gebhard in the 92nd minute. North Carolina’s defense put in a solid shift for the better part of the game with 26 clearances, 20 interceptions, and five blocks across the whole team. Pecka, Malick Mbaye, and Max Flick all had significant passing accuracies with 88.6%, 83.7%, and 86.5%, respectively.
Despite beginning the season winless in its first two matches, North Carolina have shown real resolve with the near result in Madison as well as a vigorous performance against the defending league champions Greenville Triumph SC. Its match against Triumph was a 2-1 loss which had Selmir Miscic open North Carolina’s scoring account for the season with a 15th minute equalizer before Greenville’s Lachlan McLean found the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute.
Richmond and North Carolina are two of the few USL League One clubs that have a history outside of the league’s three-year existence. North Carolina, previously known as the Carolina Railhawks, were founded in 2006. The two teams have played against each other many times in the USL1, the USL Championship, and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup since the Carolina franchise’s inaugural 2007 season. Since 2018, the two clubs have matched up five times with Richmond winning three of those ties.
Richmond will look to make it two straight wins at home this weekend before they head out on the road for their next match to take on the Chattanooga Red Wolves on May 29th at 7:00 p.m. ET. Chattanooga currently sit two points below Richmond in the table but have only played three games this season resulting in one win over North Texas and a draw against New England Revolution.
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Richmond Kickers
Nil Vinyals (#10) made his starting debut against Fort Lauderdale, and also his scoring debut. Vinyals made two key passes, led the team with 21 passes into the opposition’s half and had a passing accuracy of 81% in the opposition’s half.
Ivan Magalhães (#4) has held down the center back spot for the first three games this season, starting with a clean sheet against New England. Magalhães made an incredibly acrobating defensive header against Greenville and had the most successful passes on the team against Fort Lauderdale with 35. Despite being a defensive player Magalhães still managed 17 passes into the opposition’s half.
Victor Falck (#23) had a 74.3% passing accuracy in the match against Greenville, and 75% against New England. His partnership with Zaca Moran provides a sturdy defensive presence in the middle of the pitch. Falck won 100% of his aerial duels against Greenville. Look for him to provide a solid backbone against a physical Tormenta team.
North Carolina FC
Max Flick (#4) played a crucial role in holding down the North Carolina defense for the better part of the match against Forward Madison. He made 52 passes and 86.5% passing accuracy coupled with two clearances and one interception.
Luis Arriaga (#8) managed to create one chance and take one shot in the match against Forward Madison with a 79.3% passing accuracy. In the previous match against Greenville he managed 27 passes into the opposition’s half and four interceptions.
Malick Mbaye (#5) was a solid central defender and distributor in his matches against Greenville and with an 86.1% passing accuracy, and 83.7% against Forward Madison and also made 10 clearances and two blocks.
