The Richmond Kickers traveled to Ludlow, Mass. and came away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Western Mass Pioneers. Stanley Nyazamba’s 83rd minute goal proved to be the game-winner as the Kickers move on to the Third Round.
After a scoreless first half, Richmond opened the scoring in the 59th minute. Kelvin Jones challenged Pioneers goalkeeper Matt Glaeser for a loose ball, and as the ball bounced towards Jones he poked it over the goal line for a 1-0 lead. Western Mass answered shortly after, as Jeff Deren emerged from a scramble in the box to fire a low shot to the far corner of the goal.
The deciding goal began from a long pass from defender Evan Harding. David Bulow flicked the pass to Freddie Smith, who in turn sent a pass to an unmarked Nyazamba on the left side. Nyazamba then maneuvered around Glaeser and struck a left-footed shot past two Pioneers defenders.
The referee had his hands full as the game was winding down. In the final minute, the Kickers Pat Viray and the Pioneers Anthony Augustine were sent off after an altercation with each other. Moments later, Federico Molinari was sent off for his second bookable offense, and Glaeser was tossed for confronting the referee too strongly.
The Kickers will face the New England Revolution in the Third Round next Tuesday at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Conn.
Lineups
Pioneers: GK Matt Glaeser, Jay Willis, James Greenslit, Callum Bissett, Federico Molinari, Anthony Augustine, Anthon Petrarca, Mike Lima (Bryan Zobre – 88’), Noel Bunsie, Neil Krause, Jeff Deren
Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, Kelvin Jones, Sascha Görres, Trevor McEachron, Evan Harding, Anthony Catalano, Luke Vercollone, Eliot Paschalis (Freddie Smith – 67’), Stanley Nyazamba, Ian Bennett (Pat Viray – 88’), David Bulow
Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Kickers: 10 Kickers: 5 Kickers: 15 Kickers: 3
Pioneers: 9 Pioneers: 4 Pioneers: 15 Pioneers: 7
Cautions:
40th minute: Anthony Petrarca (Western Mass)
48th minute: Stanley Nyazamba (Richmond)
60th minute: Matt Glaeser (Western Mass)
62nd minute: Ian Bennett (Richmond)
81st minute: Mike Lima (Western Mass)
89th minute: Federico Molinari (Western Mass)
90th minute: Evan Harding (Richmond)
90th minute: Matt Glaeser (Western Mass)
Ejections:
90th minute: Pat Viray (Richmond)
90th minute: Anthony Augustine (Western Mass)
90th minute: Federico Molinari (Western Mass)
90th minute: Matt Glaeser (Western Mass)
Referee: Niko Bratsis
Assistant Referees: Claudio Badea, Victor Matheson
Fourth Official: Jan Halaska
Attendance: 1,000
Weather: Clear