Vinyals Scores Walkoff Penalty to Complete Kickers’ Comeback Win in Omaha
September 15, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Richmond Kickers News Release
Richmond Kickers in action
(Richmond Kickers)
PAPILLION, Neb. – – The Richmond Kickers (13-7-5, 44 pts) earned a 3-2 comeback victory on the road after entering the 89th minute trailing by a goal to take the regular-season series with two wins and a draw against defending USL League One champions Union Omaha (10-5-10, 40 pts).
Ethan Vanacore-Decker and Stephen Payne each netted equalizers before Nil Vinyals scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
The hosts looked to control the tempo of the match with the Kickers breaking on the counter and earning corner kicks. The Kickers’ best chance of the first half came in the 35th minute when Ethan Bryant was able to collect the ball from a short corner play. Bryant then took the shot, forcing a save from goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu.
Both teams returned to their locker rooms tied 0-0 at halftime. They both returned to the field looking to find the advantage. Omaha drew first blood in the 49th minute after John Scearce converted a penalty kick and gave Omaha the 1-0 lead.
However, the Kickers would rally and find their equalizer.
The Roos made sure that Omaha did not get too comfortable in the 78th minute with a set play resulting in an equalizing goal by Vanacore-Decker. After the Kickers drew a foul outside the 18-yard-box, Vinyals played in a free kick which found an unmarked Vanacore-Decker on the far post of the net who guided his header into the back of the net.
Omaha responded two minutes later as Joseph Brito took a corner and found Scearce in the box who headed in the cross to give Omaha the lead once more.
The Kickers responded again in the 89th minute with another late equalizer. Jonathan Bolanos took the ball up the flank and found Vinyals for a quick pass to Ritchie. The defender then crossed the ball to the back post where his fullback partner Payne was crashing the goal and was able to put the ball in the back of the net.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time, an Omaha defender clipped Nathan Aune as he was looking to get on the end of a free kick. The head official pointed to the spot and Vinyals went up to take the kick. Vinyals calmly rifled in his penalty past the current leader in the league’s golden glove race, and effectively gave the Kickers the walk-off victory.
The victory marked the Kickers’ third-straight win – a streak that began with a 3-0 victory over Omaha on August 27th – and the Kickers have now earned 20 points from a losing position. The Kickers strengthened their position at the top of the USL League One standings as they now sit four points ahead of second-place Union Omaha and five points ahead of third-place Greenville Triumph SC.
The Roos travel to Chattanooga next to take on the fourth-place Red Wolves before returning home to take on Central Valley Fuego on September 24th. The match will also be a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Night. Tickets for the match are available at richmondkickers.com/tickets.
Stay up to date with the latest news from the Kickers at RichmondKickers.com and on the official team app.
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