What is the price of victory? If you ask Richmond Kickers head coach Dennis Viollet, US Open Cup success is not worth losing one of his top players.
As it was, the Atlanta Ruckus became the first victims in the USISL vs. A-League Open Cup showdowns, dropping their Quarterfinal match to the Richmond Kickers 2-1 at the University of Richmond Stadium.
The amateur Kickers from the USISL Premier League controlled play for much of the opening half and took a 1-0 lead after 13 minutes. Ben Crawley, leading scorer at the University of Virginia for three seasons (1990-92), found Kickers leading scorer Rob Ukrop with a deep pass. Ukrop, a former national player of the year at Davidson College, then took the ball into the box and calmly beat Ruckus goalkeeper Mun Yung-Yi with a shot to the far post.
Describing the play, Crawley told the Richmond Times-Dispatch “We made eye contact, and he just peeled away from his defender (US National Team defender John Doyle). I laid the ball in there, and he made a great run.”
1995 US Open Cup Preview: The state of American soccer in 1995
1995 USOC Round 1 POTR: Carlos Llamosa
1995 USOC Q-Finals POTR: Ben Crawley
1995 USOC Semis POTR: Jake Arrambide
1995 USOC Final POTR: Jeff Causey
1995 USOC Player of Tourney: Rob Ukrop
1995 US Open Cup Results (click on the score of the game for a match report)
Little did Richmond know the momentum of the 1-0 halftime lead would not last long into the second half.
With just three minutes elapsed after halftime, Ukrop collided with Atlanta’s John Doyle while going after the ball, and Doyle’s elbow struck Ukrop in the face. While it appeared the elbow was not intentional, it is feared the Kickers will be without Ukrop for the rest of the season.
“I don’t think it’s worth losing Robby Ukrop. I’m not a doctor but you could see his cheekbone was totally depressed. It’s a tragedy. He’s really been playing great, better than ever the past few games,” Viollet told the Richmond Times-Dispatch after the game. It was the second facial injury Ukrop has had in his career. In 1992 he suffered a broken jaw while playing for the indoor Baltimore Blast after being struck in the face.
Soon after, in the 51st minute, Atlanta tied the game when Richmond suffered a defensive lapse, allowing Doyle to practically walk in on goal and easily score the only goal for the Ruckus.
Almost 10 minutes after Atlanta tied the game, Richmond went back in front for good. Crawley, who assisted on the opening goal, once again made the crucial pass. Brian Kamler found Crawley streaking down the left side, who in turn passed to Scott Snyder.
Ruckus head coach Lothar Osiander was clearly not pleased with the performance of his team.
“We lost the game in the first half, not the second half. End of story,” Osiander, the former US National Team head coach said after the game. “This is an embarrassment for us. Sure. On paper it is. We’re supposed to be the best league in the country, and we get clobbered.”
“A little third division team beat a second division team. That will throw a loop in that league” said Richmond goalkeeper Jeff Causey who made eight saves on the night. “Whoever plays us next will have to think about that. It’s a good win.”
That whoever will be the Chicago Stingers, the USISL Pro League (Div. 3) side who upset the A-League’s New York Centaurs 1-0.
