After a lackluster August, the Kickers have come to play in the postseason. Friday they had the Battery tied 1-1, gave up a controversial PK at 87, then hit the cross bar and forced goalie-of-the year Hudock into earning his award before losing 2-1. Tonight, in the 5th minute, the Battery took advantage of a free kick wide left to slice a low cross into the box for the lively Mac Cozier (former Kicker), who was making a nice near post run. he headed it in. Aggregate score, Battery 3, Richmond 1. At the 17th minute, the Battery subbed midfielder Ryan Trout, who had picked up a yellow. Were they thinking ahead to Rochester? The Kickers took offense, and spent the next twenty five minutes doing a Real Madrid impression. When the dust had settled the Kickers had a 3-1 lead, with goals from Josh Henderson, Kevin Jeffrey, and David Hayes, each a beauty. The second half was hard fought, with Luzak and Knight (Kickers central defenders) and goalie Pascale playing brilliantly against all the Battery could throw at them. Mike Burke threatened a few times on the break for the Kickers, but after 5 minutes of extra time (but no PK for the Battery away) the Kickers go to play the Rhinos and the Battery go home. Too bad in a way, as they're quite a soccer team, but the Kickers are too good for any team in the A-League (and most in MLS) to go undefeated against them in six games (season series ends 4-1-1 for Charleston).
according to www.nj.com/metrostars Richmond won the game 3-1, and they in the finals. Richmond at Rochester Vancouver at Milwaukee
The early sub was Mark Watson, who picked up the yellow and was burned on the first Richmond goal. He came out and he and Ramsey seemed to have words. Trout played 90. The goal by Hayes was brilliant, not to shortchange the other quality goals Richmond scored. Ramsey seemed to panic some subbing that early, and then putting in Diaz Arce, who hasn't played a lot of late for them and didn't even get off the bench in the first matchup between the two teams on Friday night. Richmond lived dangerously late as Charleston tried to put pressure on, but they weren't able to do it. Namoff may not be available for them if D.C. United call him up for their Thursday match at home against Dallas. As much as he's been playing and traveling of late, I don't think he can be in two places at once. Richmond will need to get a good result at home ( at VCU's SportsBackers Stadium) because typically, Rochester is hard to score on and doesn't lose at home much, especially in the playoffs.
All of Richmonds goals were solid goals. But after the Hayes goal I had to rubb my eyes and look to other people for confirmation of what I just saw. It was just unbeleiveable. Can someone describe it to me? Just unbeleiveable!!! cheers
Richmond v. Charleston "Friday they had the Battery tied 1-1, gave up a controversial PK at 87, then hit the cross bar and forced goalie-of-the year Hudock into earning his award before losing 2-1." Well, you're mostly right. The Kickers outplayed the Battery solidly throughout the match, and the stands were near damn silent. Evans' shot was not stoppable, and Burkie (the little git) had another beauty - what a left foot, give him credit. You must not have been at the game, as there is no way you could call the PK "questionable" - Bagley was obviously pulled down the second time, not at the first challenge which was fair, as he tried to get up for a second touch on the ball as Pascale came closer to the ball. Had Knight stepped further right and gotten out of Pascale's way, the ball would have rested safely in the GK's hands instead of in the back of the net. You are also right about the frenzy at the end with the Kickers having at least four quality chances to draw late .. Dusty came up huge on two close chances, and the one that kissed the bar and out - I almost shat. Anyway, the centre official missed a PK against the Battery as well, so it's really come down to who had the better of the breaks really. Full credit to the Kickers, as the entire side were fired up after the match and were seeking revenge on home pitch - and got it. The Battery looked lacklustre at home, again, and apparently last night as well. Clearly -no matter the records and season standings - the better team won the series. Good luck to the Kickers - NO ONE want Rochester to win. I will sign on to be the auxiliary semi-official supporters club of the Richmond Kickers. Did they get the Battery stickers off the bus yet? Cheers. -J
Re: Richmond v. Charleston I listened to it on internet radio--thanks to the Battery, and I wish the Kickers would do the same for away games. The announcer thought that Knight should have been given a red card on the penalty. But I assumed it was controversial since the Kickers argued it so hard.
I was sitting next to a man who coached Hayes in HS, who mentioned he had scored 48 goals one season but that might have been his best. Here's Hayes' description from the R-Times-Dispatch: "'I noticed every time the ball came out, they pushed up and he came out, so I tried to hit a hard one that lobbed over him and got lucky,' the 26-year old midfielder said. What Hayes did was launch one from about 20 yards from the left that rocketed over Hudock. then took a sharp dive into the net." The first two goals you could see coming when the ball was played to the striker--this one was truly astonishing.
Richmond v. Charleston Yes, I forgot one thing .. Knight should have been shown off. Oops. Thank God for the Battery webcasts, eh? -J
Yep, Hayes had the goal of the year, in my book. It rivals Zidane's strike from the Champions League Final this year. I also have to question Ramsey's substitution pattern. Takes out Watson after 16 minutes, and the guy's on the All League team? Then he takes out Seamus Donnelly soon after, and anyone who knows Donnelly's history against Richmond knows he feasts on them... Good win by the boys, and the Rochester series should be interesting. Pat Ercoli was scouting the game too. I saw him hanging around. Now, if Rochester should win, will the final be there again?
Cowlishaw's subs have looked brilliant--Ukrops in at 89, and he then proceeds to sit in the box and head everything out better than any of the defenders on the bench could have done.
I know Burke hasn't been thrilled with being on the bench, but when he comes in for KJ around the 65-70 minute mark, teams have NO way to control him. His speed burned the Battery several times, and he was unlucky not to have gotten a goal to put the game out of reach. Cowlishaw used this series to prove who the better coach is...
Small consolation for us, but at least we're not the only ones who were "upset". We've got good company in Charleston, who I would have figured to win the entire thing.
Richmond v. Charleston By chance does this magnificent goal exist on video somewhere? I'd like to see it if possible. Anyone tape the matches up there? -J
BigDave on the Richmond Kickers Board claims to have succesfully taped the highlights from all three news networks which include all four goals. Ask him at http://www.usldiscussions.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=38