A breezy, sunny afternoon brought out 2,754 fans to witness the Richmond Kickers take top position in Division 2 after defeating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds by a goal to nil. Although the Kickers looked dangerous for most of the match, they were unable to emulate the high-scoring hi-jinx of the last three matches.
It only took until the 6th minute for the Kickers to take the lead when Chris Carrieri took advantage of an unforced error by the Riverhound's Jason Kutney in the Kickers half. The winger broke clear on the left and sent a crisp pass to Ssejjemba running unmarked on the right hand side. Bringing the ball deep into the box the striker took the time to place the ball across Pittsburgh's Terry McNellis and into the far side net.
The Kickers looked to double their lead in the 11th minute when Andy Metcalf was found in acres of space on the left side of the box. The DC reserve deftly chipped the ball over the crowded defense and watched it dip behind the keeper just inches over the crossbar.
Pittsburgh made a break minutes later when David Flavius sprinted past the back line but was followed closely by Richmond's Kelvin Jones as they tussled towards the goal line, the result was a hopeful cross-cum-shot across the face of goal where nobody was able to meet it.
The Kickers dominated possession up to the half hour mark, Chris Carrieri looking particularly impressive on the left wing but the Kickers were unable to build on their lead. But in the 29th Pittsburgh almost took advantage of a Carrieri clearance that pinged around the box and found Leon Browne 15 yards from goal, he looped the ball over the defense where Matt Mehler volleyed straight to an outstretched Ronnie Pascale.
The close call raised Pittsburgh's sprits as they attempted a few more assaults at goal but failed to find the finishing touch to trouble the number 22. It looked as though both teams had decided to save it until the second half until the 43rd minute when Ssejemba broke through a crowded box and hit a shot past the keeper but just high and wide of the near post.
A slow start to the second half was ignited when Richmond received a free kick in a dangerous position outside the box, Sascha Gorres came wide to take it and was able to beat the defensive wall but sent it straight to the goalkeepers hands.
A minute later fortunes were reversed as Pittsburgh were awarded an equally dangerous free kick which was crossed and headed towards goal but stopped when the referee awarded a free kick to Richmond for pushing.
In the 65th minute Ssejjemba ouhustled a grounded goalkeeper for the ball but a bad bounce forced him to chase wide and allowed plenty of defenders to get back and suffocate the space that would have allowed an accurate shot.
Pittsburgh broke through on the 68th minute after Knight failed to clear the ball from the edge of the box, the resulting shot deflected high over the bar but it didn't matter as the assistant referee already flagged for offside.
The game was in danger of lulling the crowd to sleep over the next ten minutes, as Richmond appeared to pack it in after a threatening Ssejjemba was taken off for veteran Ihor Dotsenko.
But in the 83rd minute Sascha Gorres came wide from his assigned central position to send in a trademark cross that met Matt Watson just yards from goal, his powered volley forced an amazing fingertip save from Terry McNellis.
This move sparked Richmond and particularly Mike Burke into action as they began to move the ball forward and forced a couple more saves from the Pittsburgh keeper before the referee blew the whistle on the game.
Richmond Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, Tony Williams, Kevin Knight, Kelvin Jones, Ray Goodlett, Michael Burke, Matt Watson, Sascha Gorres, Chris Carrieri (Trevor McEachron - 89), Andy Metcalf (Cristian Neagu - 67), Robert Ssejjemba (Ihor Dotsenko - 72nd minute)
Pittsbutgh Riverhounds: GK Terry McNellis, Jason Kutney, Bryan Monka (Derek MacKenzie - 75), Nathan Salsi, Anthony Caluano, Matt Mehler, Cody Bragg, Steve Mellor, Dan Hartung, Leon Browne, David Flavius
