Richmond Kickers News Release - www.richmondkickers.com
Sunday, July 13, 2008
RICHMOND, VA -- The Richmond Kickers Future battled the division-leading Reading Rage to a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon to conclude the 2008 home regular season. The Future rallied back from a one goal deficit to tie the game in the final seconds of stoppage time.
The first leg of the doubleheader began with a lack of offensive pressure in the first half, with just three shots each for the Future and the Rage.
Kickers forward Andy McIntosh had a near miss early in the half, receiving a cross inches from the target but he sent the ball just over the crossbar.
The second half restart saw another close call with a Dirk Dittrich header cleared off the line by defender Marcus Cabralis.
Soon after, in the 59th minute, Rage defender Dane Hodge unleashed a powerful strike from 30 yards that was stopped by the crossbar.
The Future saw two goals disallowed due to collisions with the goalkeeper, with the second coming in the 61st minute. McIntosh swung the ball into the box, finding midfielder Scott Robertson who laid it off to Rosenbaum at close range. Rosenbaum challenged goalkeeper John Nydell and got a head on the ball but his contact with the goalkeeper resulted in a foul.
It was the Rage who took the lead in the 72nd minute when forward Pat Stanco finally found the back of the net after looking dangerous with six shots on the day.
A controversial call on the right side of the field preceded a quick restart, which allowed midfielder Adam Gazda to play the ball to Stanco at point-blank range. Stanco poked the ball past goalkeeper Connor Quinn to put the division leaders up 1-0.
The Future continued to push forward, narrowly out-shooting the Rage, 7-6, during the second half. The home side leveled the score in the final seconds of stoppage time when newcomer Patrick Innes crossed the ball from the right side to an on-rushing Stephen Laws. Laws eluded defenders and slid the ball past the goalkeeper and into the open net seconds before the final whistle.
