June 24, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Richmond Kickers News Release
MADISON, Wis. – The Richmond Kickers’ (5-4-3,18 pts) four-match unbeaten streak ended on the road on a short week to Henny Derby rivals, Forward Madison (4-3-5, 17 pts), Thursday night.
The hosts pressed early as the Kickers looked to slow down and suppress a side buoyed by over 4,000 fans at Breese Stevens Field.
In the 9th minute, Akira Fitzgerald denied a goal with his leg from a shot taken near the right corner of the goal by Madison’s Matheus Cassini. Fitzgerald would deny the Mingos once more before the end of the first half.
Madison did find the back of the net twice in the first half but both were called back by the assistant referee. A clever offside trap from the Richmond backline negated the first goal before Madison’s Abdou Mbacke Thiam scored with his hand which was subsequently ruled invalid.
Towards stoppage time, the Kickers began to take more advantage of the space Madison left on the counter attack. In the third minute of stoppage time, the Kickers found the opening goal.
Jalen Crisler hit a long pass to Jonathan Bolanos on the left wing who laid it off to Vinyals. Vinyals carried the ball into the center of the pitch towards the top of the box and ripped a shot to the bottom right corner of the net which the Forward keeper was unable to reach.
The Kickers looked to break the match open early in the second half and pressed to find another goal.
Emiliano Terzaghi took a chance in the 51st minute after he received the ball from Bryant’s flick over the head. The reigning two-time golden boot winner launched a shot from outside the box after taking a couple of dribbles towards the goal, but the ball glided just wide of the left post. Shortly after, Bolanos would create space for himself as he cut inside from the left wing and dragged a low-driven shot, but his attempt would also go wide of the left post.
Despite the Richmond defense doing well to bend but not break for more than three-quarters of the match, the hosts found their equalizer and go-ahead goal in a three-minute window.
In the 79th minute, Jeremiah Streng scored with a one-time shot off of a layoff assist by Matheus Cassini that went to the bottom left corner of the net, just out of reach of Fitzgerald. Madison gathered the ball shortly after, and, in transition, Cyrus Rad served in a cross to Cassini who converted.
The Kickers looked to find their equalizer in the waning minutes of the match. Bolanos…