The Richmond Kickers took on the US Men’s National Team today. During the three hour ride to the game I had hoped that the Kickers would do more than just be a good representation of the quality of soccer that is played in the A-league, what we in the small and medium markets in the U.S. have grown to love and call our own. My mind wandered as I envisioned Mike Burke moving down the field with the ball using his quick moves to get around his defender and crossing the ball to an on-rushing Kevin Jeffrey or Josh Henderson who would one touched the ball to the back of the net. I could see in my mind’s eye the Kickers defense fighting off a relentless U.S. attack again and again as the crowd watched in amazement. My thoughts came to reality as the Kickers took all the National team had to offer and gave an equal measure in return.
Josh Henderson going up for a header against Jeff Agoos in the first half |
David Hayes shows him sending a long ball in the second half of the game |
One might say that the national team did not show its true soccer talent due to the absence of some of their European based players, who left camp early to finish league play. However let us not forget that the national team is a collection of the best we have to offer to the rest of the soccer world and that no matter who Bruce Arena put on the field this day, it would be a quality team.
From the start of the game the U.S. team showed that they were the better team but the Kickers also showed that they did not just come along for the ride. Jeffrey’s shot on goal in the first minute of play showed that. The speed at which all the players on the national team played at is a wonder to behold. It was easy to understand why U.S. was able to get off a large number of quality shots. It was a credit to the Kickers that it took 17+ minutes before the U.S. put the first goal on the board. It was even more to the Kickers credit that they came back to even the score 10 minutes later when my dream of Mike Burke came true, beating his defender and putting the ball through to Henderson who put the ball by a sliding Brad Friedel into the far corner of the goal. The first half ended with the Kickers no doubt feeling good about their effort.
Ray Goodlett about to feed the ball to Rob Ukrop |
Henderson running onto a through ball in the first half |
In the second half the National team gave the Kickers a new look subbing in 8 fresh players but the quality of play by no means fell off. This new U.S. team kept the pressure at the same level as the first half. Once again, the Kickers defense dodged the bullet as shot after shot by the U.S. team failed to find the back of the net. Then came the Kickers counterattack, a long ball by David Hayes to Kevin Jeffrey. Jeffrey fought off his defender and put the ball past second half goalie Tony Meola to make the Kickers a surprise 2-1 leader with 40 minutes remaining.
The National team was now on the outside looking in and the door, although unlocked, did not want to open. Kicker’s goalie Ronnie Pascale, who was having a game only few in his position would have ever dared to dream about, seemed to be able to dig even deeper into what was a very large bag of tricks to turn back some extremely hard shots before he was replaced by backup goalie Armando Femia in the 83rd minute.
Kevin Jeffery and Jeff Agoos with their legs up going for the ball |
Kevin Jeffery getting by Jeff Agoos on his scoring run |
The National teams pressure finally paid off with a goal in the 86th minute to knot the score at 2-2. The game soon ended with a total of eighteen players from each team stepping onto the field. It would seem that both teams came away with what it had come for. The National team got a hard fought contest after a week of playing small sided games. The Kickers showed that they and their league played a very high level of soccer.
George Rhodes
Richmond Kickers Match Reporter
