RICHMOND, Va. — (Saturday, August 18, 2018) — The Richmond Kickers (6-15-3) scored three goals to to down Penn FC (6-9-8) at City Stadium Saturday night. Lucky Mkosana converted a penalty in the 24th minute. Brian Shriver would level the score also from the penalty spot in the 27th minute. Heviel Cordovés doubled the score for Richmond from Brian Shriver. Walter Ramirez scored a second penalty for Penn FC to draw the game level once again. Fred Owusu Sekyere sealed the victory for Richmond with a goal in the 80th minute.  

Five minutes into the match, lightning in the area of City Stadium forced a 40 minute delay of the match. A minute after getting back to action, Miguel Jaime had the first chance of the match for Penn FC. Marco Franco picked out Jaime at the top of the box. He turned and went for a shot and put it well over Trevor Spangenberg and the Kickers goal.

Penn FC broke the deadlock in the 24th minute from the penalty spot. Marco Franco decided to switch the play to get a cross into the box for Paulo Junior. He looked to head it down, as it hit Alex Lee in the hand forcing the referee to point to the spot. Lucky Mkosana stepped up and put his shot to the right, with Trevor Spangenberg going to the wrong direction for the opener.

Three minutes later, the Kickers broke their 580 minute goal scoring drought from a penalty of their own. Prince Agyemang fed the ball through for Heviel Cordovés making a run into the box. Kyle Venter tripped up Cordovés just inside the box, drawing the penalty. Brian Shriver stepped up and slotted it under a diving Romuald Peiser and into the back of the net. 

Heviel Cordovés would make it 2-1 in favor of the Kickers in the 30th minute. Brian Shriver worked his way up the left side, getting to the end line. Cordovés found space near the penalty spot, just in time for Shriver to play the ball back for him to make the tap in for the second of the night for Richmond. 

Another handball in the box gave a second penalty to Penn FC to level the score in the 54th minute. Walter Ramirez made a run to the end line and looked to get a cross in for Lucky Mkosana at the near post. As Mekeil Williams was coming in to block the cross as it hit his hand. Ramirez came up to take the penalty. Trevor Spangenberg guessed correctly but the shot was able to get past him. 

With ten minutes to go, Fred Owusu Sekyere gave the Kickers all three points with the third goal of the night and his first of the season. Raul Gonzalez chipped the ball up the left flank for Brian Shriver. He had Luiz Fernando making a run straight up the center of the pitch, and played in a low cross that was just a step ahead of Fernando. Just before the ball rolled over the line, Fernando recovered and quickly laid the ball off for Owusu Sekyere, as he redirected the ball into the open net. 

Three minutes later and Trevor Spangenberg needed to make a massive save to keep Penn FC out of the net. Walter Ramirez quickly threw the ball in off Brian Shriver’s back in order to get a cross in for Tommy Heinemann making a near post run. Spangenberg quickly dove to his right to deny Heinemann.

Trevor Spangenberg came to the rescue again in the 89th minute. Richard Menjivar stood over a free kick about 30 yards from goal. He floated in the free kick to connect with Tommy Heinemann at the six yard box. Spangenberg quickly reacted to tip the ball over the goal and out of danger.

The Kickers will be back at City Stadium next Saturday night to host Louisville City FC and the Craft Beer Fest, presented by Loveland. The party starts at 5:30pm with live music, RVA food trucks, local breweries and over 30 craft beers on tap. Arrive early for access to the VIP beer garden to meet and mingle with local brewers. Then, the Kickers take the field to battle Louisville at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for that match are on sale at RichmondKickers.com.