Kickers Dominate in Win at Tormenta FC

STATESBORO, Ga. — (Saturday, August 31, 2019) — The Richmond Kickers (7-10-4) prevail over South Georgia Tormenta FC (8-7-8) after a dominating 4-1 road victory Saturday night at Erk Russell Park. Dennis Chin and Joe Gallardo both scored braces to lift Richmond to their league-high tying fourth road win, overshadowing Mikie Rowe’s fifth minute goal. 

Three minutes into the match and the Kickers had to rely on a massive save from Akira Fitzgerald. Kaleb Jackson sent in a corner kick, connecting with Jerry Saint-Vil. As Saint-Vil tried to put the shot on frame, Ftizgerald reacted quickly to make the goalline save. 

Tormenta struck first in the fifth minute from a set piece. Greg Boehme was called for a foul after a tackle from behind on Kaleb Jackson. Mikie Rowe stepped up, putting his shot into the top right corner and out of the reach of Fitzgerald. 

The Kickers leveled the score in the 11th minute, from the veteran Dennis Chin. Off a Joe Gallardo corner kick, Eli Lockaby quickly played the ball back for Gallardo to send in a cross. Tormenta tried to clear the ball away as it rolled back out for Lockaby. He curled in a pass towards Conor Shanosky. The Tormenta defense again tried to clear as Greg Boehme got a touch on the ball to leave it for Ivan Magalhães. He could only toe poke it into the path of Chin. He took a touch into space, before launching a shot on frame for the equalizer.

Joe Gallardo made it two for Richmond in the 15th minute. Gallardo put the pressure on Ricardo Gomez. Unable to win the ball, Josh Hughes stepped up to poke it away from Gomez and into the path of Gallardo. With acres of space, Gallardo let a shot rip from about 35 yards out and over a diving Pablo Jara for the second of the night for the Kickers.

Dennis Chin scored a brace in the 36th minute to put Richmond up 3-1 on the road. Matt Bolduc picked up control of the ball right on the midfield line. He turned and played a perfectly placed through ball for Chin to run onto. Just inside the Tormenta box, the Jamaican forward made no mistake with his shot to find the back of the net.

In first half stoppage time, Joe Gallardo nearly scored a brace of his own. Eli Lockaby pounced on a loose ball and played a quick give and go with Gallardo. Lockaby then gave the ball back to Gallardo, who put his shot just wide to the left of the goal. 

Joe Gallardo and Dennis Chin nearly had a goal twenty seconds into the second half. Gallardo had a run towards the Tormenta goal, slipping a pass through for Chin. Before the angle was closed down, Chin looked to chip in a shot, as Pablo Jara got a hand on the shot to deny Chin the hat trick. 

Akira Fitzgerald denied a second goal for Tormenta in the 48th minute. Alex Morrell picked up possession at the top of the box from Charlie Dennis. He looked to go for a shot at the far post from the left side. Fitzgerald dove to make the stop. 

Richmond needed a massive last-ditch block from Eli Lockaby in the 67th minute to keep Tormenta from getting a second goal. Charlie Dennis took control of the ball after a Richmond corner kick, avoiding a couple of challenges from Matt Bolduc and tried to change up the play for Alex Morrell. Morrell stopped the ball to create space away from Lockaby, as the VCU product came around to get his body in the way of the shot. 

Not to be outdone, Joe Gallardo netted his brace in the 80th minute. Greg Boehme knocked down a header from Conner Antley for Gallardo. Avoiding four Tormenta defenders and going for the meg on Jerry Saint-Vil before slotting his shot home for the fourth goal of the night for Richmond. 

The Kickers return home to RVA Saturday, September 7 for their third and final clash with Greenville Triumph SC and Cider Fest, presented by Bon Secours. The gates open up at 5:30 p.m. with live music from the Back Seat Drivers. Happy Hour is extended until 7:00 p.m. with half off all ciders and craft beers. Richmond takes the field at 7:00 p.m. to face Greenville as both teams will compete for the newly announced Bon Secours Cup. The series is level as both sides claimed 1-0 victories in Greenville. Get your tickets now at www.richmondkickers.com.