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Renny Thomas

2022 US Open Cup Round 2: David Olsen on comeback trail with game-winner for Richmond Kickers

April 6, 2022 by Renny Thomas

Richmond Kickers NOVA FC 2022 US Open Cup
Richmond Kickers NOVA FC 2022 US Open Cup
The Richmond Kickers celebrate a goal by David Olsen against Northern Virginia FC in the Second Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Jessica Stone Hendricks Photography

In a spirited US Open Cup Second Round match against a in-state foe, the Richmond Kickers once again proved its mettle with a spirited 1-0 victory over Northern Virginia FC in Leesburg, Va. to start its season with a second straight victory across all competitions.

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For the Richmond Kickers, winners of the 1995 US Open Cup title, they won their opening round game for the third tournament in a row and earn the club’s 32nd victory in the competition. With a 32-19-4 (2-2 PKs) all-time record, they tie the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) for 7th in the Modern Era wins list.

NoVa FC entered the match a bit sluggish against Richmond to start after a 3-1 First Round win over Lynchburg FC that was played a week ago after being suspended due to weather conditions a week prior.

In the first half, NoVa conceded much of the possession to Richmond (61%) however Richmond’s inability to finish in the final third was helped by a strong showing from goalkeeper Calle Brown.

The Kickers — sporting green 30th anniversary kits — were able to ratchet up the pressure around the 30th minute mark, with Barcelona-born USL player of the week, Nils Vinyals, denied at close range twice by Brown.

NoVa’s defense was not able to hold off Richmond for long. In the 34th minute, the Kickers’ Matt Bentley splashed in a picture-perfect cross from the right side of the box to David Olsen, who guided the ball into the back of the net for his first goal in nearly four years. Olsen who has missed significant time over the last four years due to injury, signed with the Kickers this offseason hoping to get his professional career back on track.

Richmond kept the pressure up until halftime, with Bentley almost scoring in the 43rd minute off a cross into the box from the left, but his shot missed wide.

With a slew of attacking players substituting into the game early in the second half, NOVA FC hoped to turn the momentum. With the addition of attack-minded midfielder Akingbolabo Akinkoye and two additional strikers (Jean-Philippe Ayolmbong and Eric Calvillo), the Leesburg side looked to push Richmond on the back foot.

After an injury forced a pause in his career, @DavidOlsen__ scores his first goal in nearly four years to give the @RichmondKickers the lead!#WeAreOne // #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/gATboBTToN

— USL League One (@USLLeagueOne) April 7, 2022


The Kickers were able to hold strong and see the match out, despite a very vigorous and nearly fruitful push from NOVA in the final 10 minutes, including an attempt at goal in the 84th minute that was parried away by Richmond keeper, Akira Fitzgerald.

Richmond will find out their Third Round opponent when the draw is announced at Noon (ET) on Friday and will look to continue its undefeated start in league play with a USL League One tussle against the Northern Colorado Hailstorm at home on Saturday.

Filed Under: 2022 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2022 US Open Cup, Northern Virginia FC, Richmond Kickers

2019 US Open Cup Round 1: West Chester United extends road unbeaten streak with PK win over FC Baltimore Christos

May 8, 2019 by Renny Thomas

FC Baltimore Christos (NPSL) and West Chester United battle for positioning during their First Round 2019 US Open Cup match. Photo: Matt Ralph | Brotherly Game
FC Baltimore Christos (NPSL) and West Chester United battle for the ball during their First Round 2019 US Open Cup match. Photo: Matt Ralph | Brotherly Game
FC Baltimore Christos (NPSL) and West Chester United battle for the ball during their First Round 2019 US Open Cup match. Photo: Matt Ralph | Brotherly Game

On a picturesque Tuesday evening at Homewood Field on the campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, it took penalty kicks to decide the first round matchup between FC Baltimore Christos (NPSL) and West Chester United SC (USL of Pennsylvania). In the end, United edged the home team in penalties, 5-4 after a 1-1 draw and advanced to the Second Round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Predators advanced in the tournament away from home, marking the fifth straight game (including qualifying) that they have survived a knockout game away from home.

West Chester struck first and very early into the match, with an early headed goal from Troy Amspacher to the far post, assisted by midfielder Andreas Bartosinski. That goal put the Predators up 1-0, which gave them the lead and the momentum that they carried through until the halftime break.

As kickoff began in the second half, the sense of urgency seemed to rise for Baltimore, as the home team began to  raise their tempo and put United on their back foot. The pressure eventually paid off in the 56th minute, as the home side equalized off of a booming shot from distance by defender Jake Dengler (setup by a pass from midfielder Eddy Rodriguez) that deflected off the keeper and into the back of the net.

It was a slog from the opening whistle to the final PK, but @WCUSC edged out @fcbaltimore1729 from the spot to move on to the 2nd Round & @bhmlegion.#USOC2019 | ? Game Highlights ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xBZVEWkhCu

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) May 8, 2019

Once the two teams were on even terms on the scoreboard, the rest of regulation and extra time were characterized by missed opportunities and a lack of touch in the final third.  The two sides combined for 29 shots and nine shots on goal but only one goal a piece to show for it.

As the game went to a penalty kick shootout, the two teams remained deadlocked through the first five rounds, with the score tied at four a piece. Each team failed to convert on their sixth attempts on goal. After United’s Samuel Phelps slotted home his attempt to put his team up 5-4, Baltimore’s Charles Pulliam skied his attempt over the crossbar, to give West Chester the victory.

With the victory, West Chester United will move on to the second round of the US Open Cup competition, where they will go on the road for the sixth game in a row (including qualifying) to take on Birmingham Legion FC on May 15 at 8 p.m. at the BBVA Compass Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Filed Under: 2019 US Open Cup, Feature - Main, US Open Cup Tagged With: 2019 US Open Cup, FC Baltimore Christos, West Chester United

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U.S. Open Cup History

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