RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers and FC Cincinnati played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night at City Stadium as Andrew Wiedeman’s free kick provided an equalizer for the visitors and ended the Kickers’ six-game winning streak. The game went to the halftime break scoreless, although both sides had chances to break the deadlock.  Cincinnati’s Andrew Wiedeman forced a good save from Richmond goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra in the 20th minute, while Anthony Grant shot over for the Kickers in stoppage time after a good pass by Sunny Jane. The Kickers took the lead in the 63rd minute when a cross from the left was parried by Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, but looped to Sunny Jane, who controlled, and finished low past the covering defenders on the line. Ownby then went close seven minutes later with a header that Hildebrant had to tip over to keep the deficit one goal. It proved crucial with 10 minutes to go when Wiedeman curled a great free kick just inside the left post to level the score, allowing Cincinnati to maintain its edge in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Scoring:  
63’ – RIC – Sunny Jane
80’ – CIN – Andrew Wiedeman

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. In the first meeting between Richmond and Cincinnati this season, it was the Kickers’ Hugh Roberts who provided the late dramatics at Nippert Stadium with a stoppage-time equalizer. Andrew Wiedeman’s brilliant free kick for Cincinnati didn’t arrive quite that late, but it proved just as valuable as Cincinnati was able to maintain its three-point edge on the Kickers for third place in the USL Eastern Conference standings, and keep its own recent undefeated streak alive.

• 2. The games was all even on the scoreboard, and the stat sheet, at halftime with both teams notching a pair of shots on goal and five shots apiece total. The Kickers put their feet down in the second half, however, and illustrated precisely why they’re the hottest team in the USL right now. The Kickers produced more chances, and finally got one to tell with a fine, composed finish by Sunny Jane, and appeared all set to continue their winning streak. Andrew Wiedeman put paid to those hopes, however, with a great free kick that gave both sides a point.

• 3. The first meeting between Richmond and Cincinnati – which also ended in a 1-1 draw – was full of entertainment, with 13 shots on goal between the two teams and a last-minute equalizer for the Kickers. Saturday night’s brought more of the same as the game lived up to its promise as a clash between two of the top teams in the USL. With a second consecutive meeting finishing all square, there’s the potential for this fixture to provide very good on-field entertainment well into the future.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Andrew Wiedeman, FC Cincinnati – Wiedeman’s fifth goal of the season might have been his best so far, and proved the key moment in an entertaining game between two strong playoff contenders.

Upcoming Games:

Richmond Kickers vs. Charleston Battery – August 17, 7:30 p.m. ET, City Stadium

FC Cincinnati vs. Rochester Rhinos – August 24, 7 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium