RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond Kickers (6-6-7) earned their league-lead tying seventh clean sheet of the season at City Stadium against North Carolina FC (4-10-4) and made their way back into a tentative playoff position as the two sides drew 0-0, Saturday night.
With the sun beating down on the pitch at City Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the whistle was blown and the fourth match-up between the regional rivals was underway. The opening minutes of the match saw both sides jockeying for control of the midfield as they tried to create opening scoring opportunities.
Shortly after, North Carolina crossed a ball from the wing, Robert Kristo received it and tried his luck getting around Esteban Calvo, but Calvo knocked the ball out at the last second for a corner which resulted in a change of possession.
Later on, in the 31st minute, the Kickers would make a precautionary change to lineup and formation as Stanley Alves had to come off with a knock. Nathan Aune would come in for Alves and slot into the midfield as Matt Bolduc, who played at the top of the midfield to start the match, took over for Alves on the right wing.
Several minutes later, Emiliano Terzaghi found himself in space in the corner of North Carolina’s box, picking his head up, he drilled a shot which ricocheted off a defender back into his feet, then had another go at goal which was collected by NCFC keeper Jake McGuire.
With only several minutes remaining in the first half, North Carolina’s Aziel Jackson found space at the top of the box for a shot and tried curling one in, but Akira Fitzgerald got his body behind the shot and collected it calmly. The whistle would blow soon after to signal the end of the first half with the deadlock intact.
The second half started with the same intensity that the first half ended with as both sides again worked to earn control in the match. New boy Ethan Bryant — who was enjoying his first home start since signing as a loanee earlier in the month — laid a pass off to Terzaghi at the top of the box, who flicked it with his heel over a defender back to Bryant who volleyed the ball at McGuire in stride and forced McGuire to make an acrobatic save, leaping for the attempt at goal.
Rolling into the 62nd minute, both sides still level at 0-0, Terzaghi received the ball at the top of the North Carolina box, turned and dribbled into space to fire off a missile of a shot at the goal which landed just above the crossbar.
Near the 75th minute, Bolanos received the ball on the left-wing, just outside of the North Carolina box and switched the play to Bryant on the other end of the box who teed up for a low-driven shot at goal, but the shot went just wide of the right post and hit the side netting.
The clock was ticking its way into the final minutes of the match and both sides were still powering through a sweltering Richmond night, trying to find the final piece of the puzzle to tip the scales in their respective favor.
With five minutes of extra time allotted to the match, North Carolina had a free kick in Richmond’s half near the midfield line. The kick fell into Richmond’s box and Kristo got his head to it to flick it on target, but Fitzgerald lept towards his post, making an incredible save that guaranteed Richmond their seventh clean sheet of the season. Shortly after, the final whistle blew, and Richmond walked away with a hard-fought point and moved up to sixth place in the table.
The Reds have a short turnaround as they prepare to host Henny Derby rivals Forward Madison FC on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at City Stadium. The last time the two clubs faced each other was in Madison, Wi., back in June with the Reds earning a point and a clean sheet. This time around, the Kickers will have the backing of the City Stadium faithful as they continue their push for a playoff position. Kickoff for the match is set for 6:30 p.m.
Stay up to date with the latest news from the Kickers at www.richmondkickers.com and on the official team app.
BOX SCORE
|
First Half |
Second Half |
Final |
|
|
Richmond |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
North Carolina |
0 |
0 |
0 |
LINEUPS
Richmond: Akira Fitzgerald, Juan Pablo Monticelli, Ivan Magalhaes, Jalen Crisler, Esteban Calvo, Zaca Moran(78’ – Cameron Vickers), Ethan Bryant, Matt Bolduc, Jonathan Bolanos(79’ – Oalex Anderson), Emiliano Terzaghi, Stanley Alves (30’ – Nathan Aune)
Unused Substitutes: Austin Causey, Chris Cole, Mumbi Kwesele, Hernan Gonzalez
North Carolina: Jake McGuire, Britton Fischer(70’ – Malick Mbaye), Parker O’Ferral, Max Flick, Nelson Blanco Flores, Joshua Coan(90’+4 – Selmir Miscic), Aziel Jackson(57’ – Jay Tee Kamara), Robert Frame, Nazmi Albadawi, Nelson Martinez(71’ – Pecka), Robert Kristo
STATISTICS
|
Shots |
Saves |
Fouls |
Corners |
|
|
Richmond |
12 |
5 |
19 |
4 |
|
North Carolina |
11 |
1 |
10 |
5 |
SCORING SUMMARY
None
CAUTIONS SUMMARY
|
27’ 43’ 76’ 90’+3 |
NCFC RIC NCFC RIC |
Flick Calvo Kamara Crisler |
EJECTIONS SUMMARY
None
MATCH INFORMATION
