The Kickers shutout the reigning USL League One Champions for the first clean sheet of the season
The Richmond Kickers (3-2-0, 9 pts) took down reigning USL League One Champions Union Omaha tonight, 1-0 behind a shut out led by young guns James Sneddon and Griffin Garnett and the rest of the backline. Darwin Espinal slid to find the back of the net for the Kickers, off an assist from Emiliano Terzaghi who subbed on in the second half.
The Kickers controlled the match from the jump. In the third minute, Griffin Garnett stripped the ball from an Omaha attacker, sent it up to Matt Bolduc who crossed in towards Josh Kirkland in the box. Kirkland chipped it over Rashid Nuhu but the goal keeper got just high enough at the last second and was able to force a save.
Starting a relentless theme early in the night, the Kickers knocked again in the fifth, Simon Fitch crossed the ball to Darwin Espinal who found Maxi Schenfeld on the run toward the end line. Maxi send a beautiful ball into the box but it snuck back out to Fitch. The right back shot a gorgeous ball through a horde of defenders towards the near post but it took the slightest deflection on the way in.
The Kickers kept pushing, earning free kicks and driving the attack through wingers Espinal and Bolduc. In the 12th minute, James Vaughan stepped up to take the free kick after earning his first start of the season. The midfielder sent a gorgeous shot on net that just barely skimmed over the crossbar.
Omaha would try to break through towards the end of the half but Sneddon and the backline stood tall.
The Kickers came out of the locker room and continued to push. A long ball from Schenfeld in the 53rd found Bolduc on the run with Fitch overlapping. Bolduc made another curling run to complete the buildup, received the ball and took a shot on goal that fell just wide of the near post.
Another Omaha surge was quelled by the Kickers back line. Sneddon, more involved than a two-save stat line reflects, led the charge in communication with his back line anchored by Garnett and Franca with Dakota Barnathan and Vaughan in rotation. The defensive group saw 64% of their tackles won, made 11 interceptions and 37 clearances. Building from their stops turned directly into chances as well, with even a few flashes into the attack from Garnett, in addition to the expected pushes from Schenfeld, Fitch and the core in the midfield.
In the 73rd minute a won ball, possessed by Espinal, found Barnathan just outside the box. Making space for himself, Barnathan took a shot that looked on target but a slight nudge sent it just wide across the goal mouth.
The Kickers wouldn’t let up though and ultimately broke through in the 81st. A stop from Schenfeld allowed him, Espinal and Hayden Anderson to build up the left side. Espinal found Billhardt who found Terzaghi at the top of the box. Terzaghi looked to turn but found an open Fitch instead who sent another beauty on net but Nuhu managed to knock it away. Terzaghi gobbled up the rebound, wide right and crossed the ball in. Another tap save from Nuhu seemed to deny the attempt but Espinal followed the shot and slid onto the bouncing ball to send it into the back of the net.
Omaha would try to answer but even with eight minutes of extra time, the Kickers would not budge. Sneddon snagged a few late corners out of the air, and kept the scoreline in place through the final whistle.
The Richmond Kickers will take to the road again this Saturday, April 12 to face league newcomers FC Naples. The Roos will return to City Stadium on the following Saturday, April 19, hosting another league newcomer, Westchester SC, for ‘For the W’ Night. Get your tickets now and don’t miss out on any of the action!
