Richmond Kickers News Release - www.richmondkickers.com
Saturday, August 22, 2009
RICHMOND, VA -- The Richmond Kickers advanced past the Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0 in Saturday’s USL-2 Semifinal courtesy of a nail-biting 120th minute tally by forward Matthew Delicate in overtime.
Scoreless through regulation and nearly two full overtime periods, Delicate was able to find the back of the net after a scramble in the box left him open inches from the goal, narrowly avoiding the penalty kick shootout.
The Kickers will host the Charlotte Eagles in the Championship match next Saturday, August 29th at 8:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium. Charlotte won 1-0 on the road against regular season champion Wilmington.
With home field advantage and the Championship berth on the line, the Kickers came out of the gates on the attack. After an early corner kick tested goalkeeper Chase Harrison, midfielder Mike Burke streaked down the right touchline in the fourth minute, beating his defender and playing a low cross that found Delicate lurking around the six yard line. Delicate turned and fired but his attempt was deflected over the endline.
The City Islanders retaliated two minutes later when forward Steve Fisher received a through-ball. He curved around Ronnie Pascale outside the penalty box, but his right-footed attempt from an difficult angle hit the side netting.
Increasing the pressure from the wing, Burke played a good cross to Delicate in the 16th minute, but Harrison was there to tip the ball just over the crossbar. Just three minutes later, newcomer Edson Elcock played a low cross from the left side in front of the goal but a sliding Delicate was unable to reach it in time.
Harrisburg created their best scoring opportunity of the game in the 23rd minute. Midfielder Tiyi Shipalane found himself through the defenders with only Pascale left to beat. As Pascale charged forward to cut down the angle, Shipalane’s shot from 20 yards sailed inches wide.
After a slow start to the second half, Richmond had the first chance in the 60th minute with Burke bending a shot near the top of the penalty box, but his attempt goes just wide of the far post. Three minutes later a free kick by Burke 20 yards out met the same faith.
In the 74th minute, Görres received a long pass over the top from Gerson Dos Santos. Cutting inside, Görres laid the ball off to Chris Carrieri, but his shot from eight yards out got deflected for a corner. Seconds later, Elcock and Carrieri played a give-and-go at the left corner of the penalty box, but Carrieri’s shot glanced inches wide of the far post.
The best chance for Richmond during regulation came in the 88th minute, when Carrieri slotted a ball through to Elcock. Approaching the goal all alone, Elcock had only the keeper to beat, but Harrison was able to block the shot.
The match remained scoreless through regulation, pushing the exhausted teams into overtime. Extra time started with a chance for Richmond. A combination between Carrieri and Görres on the left side of the pitch lead to an open shot by Carrieri 18 yards in front of the goal, but his strike sailed skyward.
Pascale kept the Kickers in the game in the 93rd minute, showing up big with an acrobatic, diving save, after Harrisburg substitute Tino Nunez found himself open on a break-away.
A couple of minutes later, Kickers defender Evan Harding played a cross from the right side to an open Delicate, who flicked the ball to the far corner only to be denied by the post. The rebound fell to Carrieri, but Harrison’s quick reflexes tipped the ball over the crossbar.
Substitute Ben Hunter almost broke the ice in the 110th minute. Receiving the ball on the left side, he dribbled by two midfielders and curled the ball with the outside of his foot to the far post, but the attempt went inches wide.
With just two minutes left in overtime, Gorres received the ball from Dos Santos on the left side. Carrying the ball into the box and cutting inside, his right footed rocket looked destined for the near corner, but Harrison denied again.
The resulting corner led to a mad scramble in front of the goal. After touching multiple Kickers and Harrisburg players, the ball fell to Delicate five yards in front of the goal. The top goal scorer of the league didn’t let this chance go by and poked the ball into the right corner of the goal for the heavily celebrated game winning goal.
The Charlotte Eagles ousted the regular season champions Wilmington Hammerheads, 1-0 in the other Semifinal match. The Kickers and the Eagles will battle in a rematch of the 2006 Championship next Saturday, August 29th. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond and the match will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel. Tickets are $15 youth and adult and are on sale now via RichmondKickers.com.
