Kickers Open With Win Over Silverbacks

The Richmond Kickers opened the 2005 season with a 3-1 victory over Southern rival Atlanta Silverbacks. The first goal of the night by Richmond’s Kevin Jeffrey was quickly followed by an Atlanta penalty kick to even the score, late in the first half. Two consecutive goals within a four minute period by Richmond forward Matthew Delicâte clinched the win for the Kickers.

Richmond created several scoring opportunities throughout the first half with multiple shots taken by Jeffrey and midfielder Joey Worthen. The match remained scoreless until later in the half when Jeffrey was able to capitalize on a scoring attempt by Worthen in the 37th minute. Worthen’s shot hit the cross bar, allowing Jeffrey to finish the play on the rebound.

Two minutes later, a foul against a Richmond defender resulted in a penalty kick for the Silverbacks, allowing Atlanta’s Rodrigo Rios to level the score in the 40th minute. In the final minutes of the first half, several Kickers shots sailed just over the crossbar.

The first attempt to break the 1-1 draw arrived in the 52nd minute when a free kick by Jeffrey was deflected to midfielder Chris Carrieri, whose header ricocheted off the Atlanta goal post. Jeffrey attempted another header in the 54th minute but Atlanta goalkeeper Christian Fegler was able to punch the ball over the crossbar for the save. Atlanta retaliated with a dangerous shot by forward Fabian Dawkins, forcing Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale to make a diving save one minute later.

The tie was broken in the 71st minute when Richmond’s Mike Burke sent a corner kick into scoring position. A lot of action in the box resulted in a Richmond goal by Delicâte. A missed Atlanta shot in the 73rd minute was followed by a foul on a Silverbacks defender. With a free kick, Kickers defender Kevin Knight sent a blast from near midfield which found Delicâte, who was able to tap the ball in for his second and the Kickers third and final goal of the night.

With a few minutes remaining in the game, Kickers rookie Robert Ssejjemba made his professional debut and created a dangerous play with a well-positioned attack but Fegler was able to smother the ball for the save.