Recap: Kickers Earn Second Straight Clean Sheet Against North Carolina FC

RICHMOND, Va. — (Saturday, May 22, 2021) — The Richmond Kickers (2-2-1) closed out the night with a scoreless draw at City Stadium against North Carolina FC (0-2-1). Akira Fitzgerald and the defense earned their second-straight clean sheet and their third of the season.

The Kickers were denied an early opening goal in the eighth minute after a strike by Matt Bolduc fizzed into the side goal post and rolled out. Approximately 24 minutes into the match, Nil Vinyals made an impressive tackle in the center of the pitch, passed it off to Matt Bolduc, who switched the ball to the left side for Jonathan Bolanos, who fired off a shot but was also denied by the woodwork. 

Possibly the clearest cut opportunity of the first half came from a precision-placed through ball by Matt Bolduc over the top of the North Carolina center halves which landed at the feet of Jonathan Bolanos. The forward fired a shot past NCFC keeper, Jake McGuire, but the shot went just wide off the post and the halftime score remained 0-0.

After a scoreless first half, the Kickers sought the go-ahead opportunity and took another eight shots at the goal. With the entrance of Oalex Anderson at the 66th minute on the left wing, he provided a surge of pacey play that opened up several opportunities to convert a goal.

Around the 66th minute, Nil Vinyals standing over a direct free kick, sent the ball into the box for Oalex to finish with a header, but the NCFC keeper was there to deflect it away from the net. Nonetheless, the defensive line and keeper were solid in the back and Akira Fitzgerald had a spectacular outing with four saves and helped add to another Richmond clean sheet for the season.

The Kickers return to action on Saturday, May 29 when they travel to Chattanooga to take on the Red Wolves. Kickoff for that match is set for 7:00 p.m.