They may not be saying, “Oh no, we have to play Richmond,” but D.C. United will know to be wary, and prepared, for a Kickers squad experienced at taking down Major League Soccer teams in the U.S. Open Cup.
United travels to Richmond next Tuesday for a Third Round match to face a Kickers squad that is similar to the one that in last year’s U.S. Open Cup took down the MLS’s Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City on the road, before falling 2-1 at Toyota Park against the Chicago Fire in the semifinals.
The Kickers advanced to host United by virtue of a convincing 4-0 win over Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association at the Maryland Soccerplex. The Kickers received two goals from Christopher Agorsor, as well as single goals from Gerson dos Santos and Nozomi Hiroyama to lock down the Hawks.
Agorsor opened the scoring in the 20th minute, as defender Henry Kalungi played a long ball from midfield toward forward Jason Yeisley, who flicked the ball into Agorsor’s path. The former University of Virginia standout made a quick turn and fired low into the left corner for the 1-0 lead.
The Kickers struck again before the half, this one coming off a Mike Callahan corner in the 28th minute. Callahan played the ball to defender Luke Vercollone, who took a touch and then hit an outswinging ball in the box to dos Santos, whose header went into the upper 90.
The Hawks had two quality chances before the half, but just missed. The Kickers then used the second half to seal the match, getting two more goals late.
In the 82nd minute, dos Santos put a free kick from 20 yards off of Agorsor’s heel and into the net at the near post to put the Kickers up 3-0. Two minutes later, Hiroyama took a pass from Bobby Foglesong near midfield and dribbled 45 yards through the Hawks defense before scoring from 14 yards.
The last time United played the Kickers in the U.S. Open Cup was in 2010, when United won 2-0 in a round of 16 game at George Mason University (highlights below).
In 2004, the Kickers defeated United in the Open Cup 2-1 in the third round before falling to the Chicago Fire.
In their history, besides winning the U.S. Open Cup in 1995, the Kickers have taken down the following MLS teams at various points–Colorado Rapids, Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, L.A. Galaxy.
D.C. United, meanwhile, has won the U.S. Open Cup twice, in 1996 and 2008.
Kickers History vs. Major League Soccer
March 15, 1997 – Exhibition – Richmond Kickers 3 vs. Columbus Crew 1 (UR Stadium)
June 17, 1997 – Exhibition – D.C. United 4 vs. Richmond Kickers 2 (UR Stadium)
July 23, 1997 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) – MetroStars 3 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (UR Stadium)
June 14, 2000 – U.S. Open Cup (2nd Rd) – Richmond Kickers 3 vs. Colorado Rapids 0 (UR Stadium)
July 25, 2000 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) – San Jose Earthquakes 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (Spartan Stadium)
April 1, 2001 – Exhibition – Richmond Kickers 0 vs. Dallas Burn 0 (UR Stadium)
July 24, 2001 – U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) – D.C. United 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 1 (RFK Stadium)
April 13, 2002 – Exhibition – Richmond Kickers 0 vs. D.C. United 1 (UR Stadium)
July 17, 2002 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) – Columbus Crew 3 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (Crew Stadium)
April 5, 2003 – Exhibition – Richmond Kickers 1 vs. D.C. United 1 (UR Stadium)
July 21, 2004 – U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) – Richmond Kickers 2 vs. D.C. United 1 (UR Stadium)
August 4, 2004 – U.S. Open Cup (Quarterfinals) – Chicago Fire 1 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (UR Stadium)
August 3, 2005 – U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) – Richmond Kickers 1 vs. D.C. United 3 (UR Stadium)
July 10, 2007 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) – Richmond Kickers 1 vs Los Angeles Galaxy 0 (UR Stadium)
March 22, 2008 – Exhibition – Richmond Kickers 3 vs. D.C. United 0 (UR Stadium)
June 30, 2010 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) – D.C. United 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (George Mason Stadium)
June 28, 2011 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) – Richmond Kickers 2 vs. Columbus Crew 1 (Crew Stadium)
July 12, 2011 – U.S. Open Cup (Quarterfinals) – Richmond Kickers 2 vs. Sporting Kansas City 0 (Livestrong Sporting Park)
August 30, 2011 – U.S. Open Cup (Semifinals) – Chicago Fire 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 1 (Toyota Park)
The Kickers return to regular season action May 26 when they host the Wilmington Hammerheads, who fell 4-0 to Eric Wynalda’s Cal FC.
Box Score First Half Second Half Final
Aegean Hawks 0 0 0
Richmond 2 2 4
Scoring Summary
Richmond: Christopher Agorsor (Jason Yeisley) 20
Richmond: Gerson Dos Santos (Luke Vercollone) 30
Richmond: Christopher Agorsor (Gerson Dos Santos) 82
Richmond: Nozomi Hiroyama (Bobby Foglesong) 84
Lineups
Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, William Yomby, Henry Kalungi, Sascha Görres, Shane Johnson, Gerson Dos Santos, Luke Vercollone, Mike Callahan, Ryan Heins, Christopher Agorsor, Jason Yeisley (Nozomi Hiroyama – 59’)
Cautions:
Richmond: Gerson Dos Santos (Richmond) 70
Ejections:
None
Referee: Charles Carson
Assistant Referees: Matthew Kreitzer, Alexander Luttmann
Fourth Official: Adrian Krell, III
Attendance: 150
Weather: Cloudy, 72º
