This second round U.S. Open Cup game was to start at 7:00 but the Reading Rage didn't get there unit almost game time. When the game ended they most likely wished they never got on the bus. The Rage's late start leaving Pennsylvania did not prevent them and the Kickers from displaying some good ball control. The Kickers Mike Burke put on a clinic though out the game as he continually dribbled around Reading plays at will.
This display of ball control lead to an early opportunity for the Rage when a ball was crossed to the top of the box. The Richmond defense was able to prevent the rage player from getting off the shot. Richmond's first shot came in the 19th minute as Kevin Jeffrey got clear inside the 18 yd box only to put his shot wide of the goal.
The Rage got another opportunity off of some quick passes in the 23rd min when the Rage fine themselves inside the 18 yard box. The Rage player badly miss hit the shot but was able to regain control of the ball and take another shot. Richmond goalie, Mike McGinty, was able to make a diving save to his left punching the ball clear.
The floodgates opened in the 26th minute when Tony Williams, after receiving a pass from Josh McKay, put a hard shot on goal. The Rage goalie, Steve Widdowson, made a great save only to see the rebound go to Kevin Alvero who put easily put the ball in the goal. Two minutes later Josh Henderson threads a pass between two players to Jeffrey who puts a low hard shot into the right corner.
The goals continued to roll in as Kevin Knight scored off an assist from Jeffrey but the best part of this goal came when Readings' Nick Chrisanthon, having been badly beaten by Jeffrey attempted to bat the ball away as it went over his head on its way to Jeffrey. Even though he was able to get a hand on the ball it wasn't enough to stop it from getting to Jeffrey who took it to the near post before passing it to the oncoming Knight for the easy goal. Chrisanthon was given a yellow card for his handy work.
Alvero got on the board again as a result of some quick play as Tony Williams took a pass from Henderson, who had fought his way across the midfield strip, and headed straight to the right post before slotting the ball to a wide-open Alvero.
Reading got on the scoreboard with a goal in the 39th minute off some loose defense on the part of the Kickers. Jimmy Connor came up the right side and crossed the ball to a Roger Kennedy who was wide-open just inside the penalty box. Kennedy put the ball into the lower left corner of the goal. The half ends with the Kickers up 4-1.
In the second half Kwaku, who came on for Josh Henderson at the start of the second half, paid quick dividends as he took the ball to the top of the penalty box at speed before passing the ball to Jeffrey who buried the ball into the net from 16-yds out at the 49th minute mark. Ten minutes later Alvero brought the ball up the right side of the field. At the midfield strip he sent the ball into the center of the Rages' end of the field where Mike Burke ran on to the ball though a seam in the defense. The reading goalie charged off his line only to helplessly watch as Burke chipped the ball high over his head and into the net for a 6-1 lead.
Once again only a short amount of time ticked off the clock before the Kickers scored another goal in the 69th minute of the game. This time Kwaku took the ball down the left side of the field before cutting to the center. As he reached the top of the penalty box at the near post he clears two defenders and sends the ball into the upper right hand corner 7-1 Kickers.
Reading got a small measure of revenge in the 83rd minute when late sub Mackej Mizia won the ball inside the box and pasted to Bobby Henes who was wide open on the left side. Mizia had another opportunity in the game but was unable to capitalize. In the short amount of time that Mizia was in the game he showed that he was the class of the Reading squad.
Starting Line ups
Richmond: G-Mike McGinty (63rd Ronnie Pascale), D-Chris Brown (46th Cliffton Waugh), D-Josh McKay, D-Rumbani Munthali, D-Ray Goodlett, M- Kevin Knight, M-Tony Williams, M-Mike Burke, F-Josh Henderson(81st Kwaku), F- Kevin Jeffrey (63rd Rob Ukrops)
Reading: G-Steve Widdowson (71st Greg Sherwood), D-Nick Christanthon, D-Julian Dorsey, D-Manny Oudin, D-Eric Lambinus, M-Jimmy Connor, M-Eric Puls, M-Brian Marshall, M-Bob Henes, F-Roger Kennedy (71st Maciej Miria), F-Eric Kvello (71st Pat Stanco)
Yellow Cards
29th min Eric Lambinus Reading
22nd min Chris Brown Richmond
33rd min Chrisanthon Reading
65th min Cliffton Waugh Richmond
90th min Patrick Stanco Reading
Scoring
Richmond Kickers
26th min Alvero (Williams)
28th min Jeffrey (Knight)
33rd min Knight (Jeffrey)
37th min Alvero (Williams)
49th min Jeffer (Kwaku)
59th min Burke (Alvero)
63th min Kwaku (unassisted)
Reading Rage
39th min Kennedy (Conner)
83rd min Henes (Mizia)
Shots Richmond 23
Reading 15
Saves Richmond 5
Reading 9
Fouls Richmond 8
Reading 10
Corners Richmond 6
Reading 5
Attendance 1051
