May 24, 2017 USL Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Richmond Kickers game recap (from richmondkickers.com)

  
  
TORONTO 0, RICHMOND 0
Kickers Unbeaten in Four Matches after Point on the Road
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MATCH REPORT

Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Ontario Soccer Centre

Toronto FC II     0
Richmond Kickers  0

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TORONTO, Canada – (Wednesday, May 24, 2017) – The Richmond Kickers (2-4-4) took another point 
on the road after a 0-0 draw at Toronto FC II (1-5-4) Wednesday afternoon. The Kickers 
unbeaten streak extends to four league matches with the draw. 

Richmond’s first tried to create a chance in the 6th minute. Samuel Asante won the ball 
just outside the Toronto box. Asante tried to get through three Toronto defenders and was 
slightly clipped as he was making his run and lost possession for Mark Pais to pick up. 

Toronto created their first opportunity in the 23rd minute. Luis Pereira won the ball 
from Alex Lee inside the Toronto end of the field. He drove up the field and fed the ball 
through to Shaan Hundal. Matt Turner came off his line and slide in to make the stop 
before Hundal was able to create a shot. 

The best chance for the Kickers came in the 28th minute. Raul Gonzalez won the ball 
on the wing and made a break up the field. Luis Pereira slide in and clipped Gonzalez, 
earning a yellow card for the tackle and setting up a Richmond free kick. Gonzalez 
stepped up to take the free kick and connected with Oliver Minatel at the top of the 
six-yard box. His header was on frame as Pais quickly dove to his right to make the 
save on the goal line, preventing the scoring opportunity.

Luca Uccello stepped up for a free kick chance in the 30th minute for Toronto. Hundal 
was looking to create a chance coming towards the Richmond box as Conor Shanosky stepped 
up to make a stop, but instead drew a foul and a yellow card. Uccello looked to put 
his free kick towards the back post from about 30 yards out. Turner was able to come 
off his line and punch the ball away before any Toronto player could get on it. 

Oliver would get another chance for the Kickers in the 30th minute. Braeden Troyer played 
the ball up the sideline where Samuel Asante was making a run. Asante would get to the 
endline playing a cross into the near post and find Oliver as his header was sent 
wide of the goal. 

Richmond continued to look towards goal as Raul Gonzalez would get an opportunity 
in the 33rd minute. Asante broke away from his defender inside the center circle 
and played the ball over the top to find Gonzalez on the edge of the Toronto box. 
He turned inside to get away from his defender a put a left-footed effort on frame 
as curls into the hands of Pais. 

Three minutes later, it was Richmond once again on the attack. Chris Durkin played 
the ball out wide on the right to Alex Lee. Lee played a cross into the far post 
and found Minutillo amongst three defenders as he was still able to get a head 
to the ball, but his shot was sent wide of goal. 

Richmond would get one more chance before the end of the half in the 40th minute. 
Brandon Aubrey was looking to play the ball out of danger for Toronto as Durkin came 
in to get a foot to the ball and found Gonzalez. He took a couple of steps and set 
up a shot to the right and Pais was forced to dive and make the fingertip save.

The Kickers continued to look for a goal right after the halftime break in the 
46th minute. Alex Lee played the ball through to Yudai Imura on the right-hand 
side of the Toronto box. Imura then played the ball back to Gonzalez right at the 
top of the box and he played a cross in towards the near post. Pais came off his 
line to meet the pass before Oliver would be able to get a head on the ball. 

Mikey Minutillo nearly scored his first goal for Richmond just two minutes later. 
Samuel Asante fought off his defender at the top of the Toronto box and played 
the ball out wide to the right to Lee. After taking a step Lee sent in a cross 
to the far post and found Minutillo. Brandon Onkony was defending Minutillo tight 
and he was only able to get a slight touch to the ball that was sent just inches 
wide of the far post.

The home side tried to create a chance on goal in the 54th minute. Brian James 
slot the ball through to Luca Uccello inside the Kickers box. Unable to turn 
towards goal, Uccello backheeled a pass to Hundal as he was making a run into 
the box. His shot would end up going high and out of danger. 

Toronto would be brought down to ten players in the 60th minute. Anthony Osorio 
came into the game in the 59th minute to replace Aikim Andrews. Less than 
a minute after entering the match, Osorio would get tangled up with Alex Lee 
as he was able to defend the ball away for Oliver. Osorio would follow up the 
play with violent conduct forcing the referee Silviu Petrescu to show the 
straight red card.

Even with the man advantage for the final 30 minutes, Richmond could not capitalize 
to find the go-ahead goal. Minutillo would take the best chance in the 77th minute. 
Fred Owusu Sekyere played a cross in to find Imura at the far side of the 
Toronto box. He played a low cross in to Mintuillo. He took a touch and turned 
towards goal and it would be saved by Pais. 

Richmond will conclude their road trip Saturday as they travel to take 
on Ottawa Fury FC Saturday, May 27 at 2pm. This match will be shown live on the 
main CBS 6 channel in the Richmond metro area (Comcast 9 and 212, Verizon FiOS 6 
and 506, and DirecTV 6). It will also be streamed live on the USL Matchcenter 
at USLsoccer.com/match-center. The Kickers return to City Stadium to host the 
defending USL Cup Champions New York Red Bulls II June 3 at 7pm. Tickets are 
on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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