May 13, 2023 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Richmond Kickers News Release
Richmond Kickers in action
(Richmond Kickers)
GREENVILLE, S.C. – – The Richmond Kickers (2-1-4, 10 pts) scored two unanswered goals in the second half to complete a 2-2 comeback draw against rivals Greenville Triumph SC (3-4-1, 10 pts) to keep their road unbeaten streak alive.
Nathan Aune opened the Kickers’ scoring with his second of the season before Luke Pavone scored his first-ever goal for the Kickers to complete the comeback late.
After entering the dressing room at half trailing 2-0, the Kickers pushed to halve Greenville’s lead out of the gate in the second half and found their first goal of the night in the 59th minute.
Aune progressed the ball into Greenville’s half before laying the ball off to Justin Sukow and continuing to run forward. As Sukow received the ball, Kharlton Belmar drifted wide and split his defenders to receive a through ball from Sukow. Belmar gathered the ball and crossed it back toward Aune who charged into the box and blasted a shot into the top netting.
The equalizer came in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Sukow circulated the ball in Greenville’s half and found Owayne Gordon on the left wing. Gordon took on his man and dribbled into the penalty area before playing a low cross toward the six-yard box. Matthew Bentley who received the cross from a difficult angle, backheeled the ball which beat the keeper but hit the inside of the far post and ricocheted back into play. Pavone who made a trailing run into the box pounced on the loose ball and put it into the net.
The comeback followed up a difficult first half in which the hosts were able to take advantage of calls or a lack there of while Richmond was unlucky not to have several decisions go their way.
Greenville opened the scoring in the third minute. After recovering the ball at midfield a minute prior, they were able to draw a soft foul just outside of Richmond’s penalty area. Greenville’s Lucas Coutinho, who currently sits tied for second in goals scored in the league, took the shot and snuck the ball inside of the far post and into the goal.
Richmond was hard done not to earn a penalty kick in the 15th minute.
Belmar played a cross into the box and Greenville’s Noah Pilato shanked an attempted clearance that rolled back toward goal. Emiliano Terzaghi pounced toward the ball as Greenville’s Evan Lee kicked the forward in the legs and brought him down. However, it was determined that play…