May 11, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1)
Richmond Kickers News Release
Richmond Kickers’ Ryan Shellow in action
(Richmond Kickers)
RICHMOND, Va. – – The Richmond Kickers (0-1-1, 1-0, 2 pts) fell on the road late to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (1-1-0, 3 pts) in the second round of the USL Jägermeister Cup despite creating a bevy of second-half chances that nearly turned the match in the Kickers’ favor.
The hosts started on the front foot as the Kickers absorbed the pressure and looked to break on the counter. Goalkeeper Ryan Shellow was there to stand on his head and frustrate the Red Wolves.
Shellow had two highlight-reel saves in the 18th and 41st minutes. The first, a diving save to stifle a long-range shot from outside of the box before denying a half-bicycle kick with a reaction save.
The Kickers nearly found a breakthrough in the 39th minute as Adrian Billhardt found Simon Fitch with a deftly timed through ball. Fitch quickly crossed the ball from the backline across the goal mouth to Ryan Sierakowski. The forward one-timed a shot that beat the keeper but rattled off the underside of the crossbar and away from goal.
In the seventh minute of first-half stoppage, Nil Vinyals had an opportunity as he dribbled the ball up the left side of the pitch. He teed up his own shot from and ripped a low-driven attempt to the far post that beat the keeper but drifted wide.
Richmond roared out of the dressing room in search of the go-ahead goal on their way to racking up 1.9 expected goals (xG) in the second half.
In the 55th minute, Arthur Bosua received the ball in the middle of the box. The forward put the ball on his right foot and hit a curling shot with touch that forced a save from Chattanooga keeper T.J. Bush.
Eight minutes later, Billhardt received the ball with his back to goal. The forward quickly turned on the ball, scooping a shot toward the far post that forced another save from Bush.
Seconds later, the Kickers were back on the attack after Vinyals found Vaughan on the right wing. The Englishman fired in a cross across the goal mouth to Sierakowski who had his one-timed attempt saved by Bush.
A last-second defensive block stopped the Kickers in the 78th minute. Billhardt played a low cross to Vaughan who one-timed the ball with the side of his foot. However, the attempt was deflected off a Chattanooga defender into the side netting.
The hosts found their game-winner in the 85th minute. Chevone Marsh dribbled the ball into the box as Shellow…