April 30, 2016 Toronto FC II--Richmond Kickers vs Toronto FC II game review (from uslsoccer.com)
Early Goal Leads Richmond Past Toronto 04/30/2016, 9:04pm EDT By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com Ownby scores only goal, Turner records shutout on debut for Kickers RICHMOND, Va. – An early goal by Brian Ownby proved the difference as the Richmond Kickers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory against Toronto FC II on Saturday night at City Stadium. Matt Turner, making his professional debut, recorded a shutout as the Kickers took their third win of the season. Richmond took the lead in the 10th minute off a well-worked move down the right. Off a throw-in by Alex Lee, Jason Yeisley manufactured just enough space for a cross that took a small deflection, and Ownby was able to get enough on his first-time finish to loop a volley into the right corner of the net. The goal appeared to lift the Kickers (3-2-1, 10pts), and Ownby opened a chance for Sunny Jane six minutes later, but the midfielder’s shot from 25 yards went high and wide. The visitors also put together some good moves down the flanks, but didn’t seriously threaten the goal of former Jersey Express goalkeeper Turner – on loan from the New England Revolution – through the midway point of the first half, The game began to open up more as the half went on, and Raheem Edwards floated an angled cross-shot from the left side of the penalty that drifted just wide of the right post. Richmond also created a nice opening for Jane off a backheel by Ownby, but Jane’s shot was comfortably saved by Alex Bono. Toronto (1-2-2, 5pts) came closest to an equalizer before the break in the 29th minute when a low ball into the penalty area found Salvador Bernal. The attacking midfielder beat his man to make space for a shot, and Turner got just enough on the high effort to tip it over the crossbar. Edwards tested Turner again two minutes later when Toronto was awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. TFC II’s leading scorer hit a curling shot toward the top-left corner, but Turner got across well to catch cleanly. Ownby and Jane continued to be dangerous when they combined for the Kickers, and just before the halftime break they almost doubled the hosts’ lead. A flicked pass over the Toronto defense found Ownby in stride for a volleyed shot from the left side to the right corner, but Bono again got down well to save. Both teams had chances from free kicks early in the second half, but both Toronto’s Edwards’ and Richmond’s Jane shot high. The Kickers then almost doubled their lead in the 53rd minute as Yeisley turned well in the penalty area and fired a low shot, only for it to come back off the left post. As heavy rain came down in the second half, Toronto looked for an equalizer, but found it difficult to find a way past Turner. A back-post header from a corner on the left by Skylar Thomas was comfortably saved, as was a shot from distance by Brian James. Richmond also had chances, as Fred Owusu Sekyere had a long-range effort force a diving save by Bono. In the end, however, Ownby’s goal would hold up as the winner as Toronto dropped a second consecutive contest. Upcoming Games •May 7: Richmond Kickers vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium •May 4: Toronto FC II vs. Louisville City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, Ontario Soccer Centre USLSoccer.com Man of the Match Brian Ownby, Richmond Kickers – Ownby’s early goal proved the difference for Richmond on Saturday night, as he and Sunny Jane showed moments of tremendous chemistry that should give the Kickers a strong platform to build on in future contests.
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