Kickers settle for draw against LA Blues

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers extended their unbeaten streak, battling the Los Angeles Blues to a 1-1 draw Saturday night.  In a tale-of-two halves, the Kickers held a first half advantage on an early Joseph Ngwenya tally until Blues midfielder Juan Perez buried an 88^th minute equalizer to steal a point at City Stadium.

Following several ill-fated attempts on both sides of the field, the Kickers nearly broke through in the 34^th minute when midfielder Luke Vercollone stole the ball in the midfield and fed it to Ngwenya.  The Zimbabwean international swiftly maneuvered past his mark and played a square ball across the top of the box to an awaiting Michael Seaton.  The 17-year old forward’s low shot was blocked by a staunch Blues defense but Nate Robinson attempted to scoop up the rebound near the endline, only to see his shot from a difficult angle cleared off the line.

The Kickers attack could not be stifled three minutes later when Robinson struck a low driven ball through traffic from the top of the 18.  The Blues defense once again redirected the ball from harm’s way, but this time the ricochet found a well-positioned Ngwenya.  Taking two steps around his defender, he lofted the ball over the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Steve Gonzalez and into the back of the net.

Hat Trick earns Ngwenya Player of the Week honor

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week Eight of the season on Tuesday, with the Richmond Kickers’ Joseph Ngwenya earning Player of the Week honors after recording a hat trick in the Kickers’ 4-1 victory against Antigua Barracuda FC on Saturday night. The victory allowed the Kickers to remain undefeated this season, while giving Ngwenya five goals.


Ngwenya teamed with fellow Team of the Week selection Nate Robinson on a pair of goals, including the Kickers’ opener in the 18^th minute. Robinson, who had three assists, found space down the left before sending a low ball across the top of the six-yard box that Ngwenya met at the far post.

Five minutes later Ngwenya added a second, heading home a finish after Brian Ownby kept an attack alive with a looping overhead cross that found the midfielder near the right post. Ngwenya then completed his hat trick in the 44^th minute, finishing a free kick by Robinson to give his side a 3-1 halftime lead.

Video:: Joseph Ngwenya nets Hat-Trick for Kickers

via RichmondKickers


Check out video highlights of Joseph Ngwenya scoring his first hat-trick for the Kickers in the 4:1 win over Antigua Barracuda FC on May 11, 2013.

Former D.C. United striker Ngwenya scores in Kickers 4-1 win over Rhinos

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers earned three points Saturday night with a dramatic 4-1 win over the Rochester Rhinos. A crowd of 2,270 saw a pair of red card ejections in between a barrage of goals as Rochester was forced to play two-men down after earning an early lead on a Matt Luzunaris tally. The Kickers retaliated with four unanswered goals as Mike Callahan, Joseph Ngwenya, Jason Yeisley and Stanley Nyazamba led the Kickers to their second consecutive victory at City Stadium.

The Rhinos claimed the lead inside the first three minutes of the opening whistle when Luzunaris stole the ball at midfield and carried it down the left wing on a breakaway, taking on Kickers goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra 1v1. As Dykstra charged off his line to challenge the streaking forward, Luzunaris swiftly drove a low ball into the far right corner.

Searching for the equalizer six minutes later, defender Sascha Görres threaded the ball through a crowded midfield, connecting with Brian Ownby who served a long ball over the Rhinos back line to find Nate Robinson deep on the left flank. The Kickers newcomer delivered the ball to the far post, finding Jason Yeisley in the air but the forward’s header soared just wide.

Richmond Kickers defeat defending Champs Charleston Battery

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers captured three points at City Stadium Saturday night with a 4-1 win over the defending USL PRO Champions Charleston Battery. Zimbabwean International Joseph Ngwenya opened scoring and D.C. United forward Casey Townsend registered a pair of goals for the Kickers while Battery defender John Wilson’s tally prevented the shutout in front of 2,497 fans.

Photo (c) Suz Kitsteiner

The Kickers claimed an early lead when midfielder Luke Vercollone collected the ball in the midfield and found defender Taylor Kemp on the left wing. Splitting a pair of defenders with his well-timed pass, Kemp connected with Ngwenya who eluded a tackle and played the ball wide to Alex Lee at the far post. The Kickers newcomer whipped the ball back into the mix, finding Ngwenya in the air, who nodded the ball just over Charleston goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper’s outstretched hands to officially open his Kickers account in the 23^rd minute.