The duo were instrumental in the Kickers earning three points at NCFC
TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One announced on Monday that Richmond Kickers’ defender Dakota Barnathan and midfielder Nil Vinyals were named to the league’s team of the week for week 18 following their performances in the Kickers’ stoppage-time comeback win at North Carolina Fc. The duo’s team of the week-worthy performances are presented by Legends Soccer Co.
Barnathan makes his first appearance on the league’s team of the week since joining the Kickers ahead of the 2022 season. Vinyals earns his fourth placement of 2022 after earning team of the week honors in weeks 6 and 12 and player of the week in week 1. The Spaniard has earned six cumulative weekly honors since joining the Kickers in 2021.
In the dying embers of stoppage time at North Carolina FC, knotted up 2-2, Barnathan delivered the game-winner as his advanced run into the box allowed him to put back the goalkeeper’s deflected save.
Barnathan’s game-winner marked the second goal scored by the defender in as many weeks after scoring his first Kickers’ goal four days prior on the road at Central Valley Fuego FC.
“I’m happy I was able to help the team bring home three points,” Barnathan said. “We showed a lot of grit and heart to grind out the result.”
Vinyals was the architect for the Kickers’ comeback as he served up Emiliano Terzaghi’s equalizer in the first minute of second-half stoppage time before sending in the ball into the box that would eventually find the back of the net with Barnathan’s help.
The midfielder finished the match completing all three of his dribbles while winning more than half of his duals.
He currently ranks first on the Kickers with 29 chances created which ranks sixth overall in USL League One.
“There is no doubt that it was a key result for us going forward,” Vinyals said. “The team showed yet another time the character and individual quality that it possesses.
“I’m excited to keep striving for an end of the season where we rely less on individualities and more on a collective identity.”
The Kickers finish up their three-match away stand on Tuesday, Aug. 2 when they head to Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC for the first time. Kickoff for the match is set for 9 p.m. EDT and the Kickers will host an official watch party at Penny Lane Pub where fans will have the opportunity to win ticket and merch giveaways.
The Roos then return home to host FC Tucson on Saturday, Aug. 6 when the club celebrates Family Night. A special ticket package is available for the match with families or groups of friends able to purchase four tickets that comes with four non-alcoholic drink vouchers for only $52 or $13 per ticket.
Stay up to date with the latest news from the Kickers at RichmondKickers.com and on the official team app.
