Photo courtesy of Richmond Kickers
Boxscore
RICHMOND, VA --- FC Cincinnati and the Richmond Kickers tied 1-1 Saturday night at City Stadium, ending the Kickers' six-game win streak as the two teams held steady in the USL Eastern Conference standings at third and fourth, respectively. The draw was the second for the two sides which logged an identical result at Nippert Stadium in June.
Andrew Wiedeman erased the Kickers’ 1-0 lead in the 81st minute with his fifth goal of the year. A yellow card was issued to Michael Callahan after the midfielder cut down Jimmy McLaughlin was behind. The card proved costly as Wiedeman took the ensuing 20-yard free kick, curving the ball over the Kicker defense and dropping it into the bottom left corner for the brilliant equalizer.
FCC had to play from behind after Richmond broke through the scoreless tie in the 64th minute. A run down the left side by Richmond led to a cross into the box that was punched away by Mitch Hildebrandt. However, the ball fell to Sunny Jane, who chested and left-footed the rebound into the net.
The Orange and Blue created several chances in the second period. A scramble in the box in the
83rd minute pulled Dykstra off his line. Jimmy McLaughlin had an opportunity to score the go-ahead goal but his shot ran into a Kicker crowd and the ball was deflected and cleared.
It was McLaughlin again in the 89th minute as he positioned himself for a clear shot after connecting on the pass from Wiedeman but his direct attempt was managed by Dykstra.
Hildebrandt was under pressure from the Kickers early in the second half and had to contend with a dangerous play in the 52nd minute. Forward Anthony Grant nearly found himself on the end of a clean pass from the right flank but Hildebrandt alertly picked off the ball to prevent the attempt.
Richmond mounted an attack in the 70th minute as Brian Ownby re-directed a pass directly at Hildebrandt. However, the goalie deflected the solid attempt up and over the bar to register one of his three saves of the evening.
The two teams played a fast pace in the first period, recording five shots apiece. FCC was the early aggressor with Wiedeman putting a header on target in the second minute of action that was shoved over the crossbar.
Wiedeman continued to trouble the Kicker defense in the 19th minute, blistering a shot that was parried away.
In stoppage time Grant was yards from the goal and had a clean look from the left side but he sent the ball over Hildebrandt and the goal for what was arguably Richmond’s best chance of the half.
FCC out-shot Richmond in the second half, 7-3, but the side, which entered the game with a 103-98 advantage in corner kicks, was held to none in the period.
Hildebrandt and Dykstra both were credited with three saves in the effort.
FCC returns to action on Wed., Aug. 24 against Rochester Rhinos for a 7:00 p.m. contest at Nippert Stadium for the team’s lone home match of the month.
