South Georgia Tormenta FC 1, Richmond Kickers 1
| RICHMOND KICKERS | 1 | 57′ Sukow |
| SOUTH GEORGIA TORMENTA FC | 1 | 45′ Akoto (Otieno) |
STATESBORO, Ga. —The Richmond Kickers (3-2-5, 14 pts) earned a comeback 1-1 draw at defending league champs, South Georgia Tormenta FC (4-5-1, 13 pts), Saturday night, despite the Roos falling down to 10-men in the final nine minutes of regulation and almost nine minutes of stoppage.
Richmond extended its unbeaten streak against Tormenta to seven matches – dating back to the 2020 season – thanks to a second-half Olimpico goal from midfielder Justin Sukow.
The match was another in a series marked by the same physicality that defined the first 11 matches between Richmond and South Georgia.
The Kickers did well to methodically build up play throughout the first half as the visitors continued to pin Tormenta back in its own half despite an uneven cadence to the match with multiple restarts initiated by the officials.
Richmond earned 31 final-third entries to South Georgia’s 15 in the first half while placing two shots on target to the host’s one.
The Kickers’ best chance of the half came in the 28th minute from one of the team’s three first-half corners.
Sukow sent his cross into the box that drifted toward the penalty spot and found Owayne Gordon. The winger headed the ball into the ground which took a bounce toward goal and forced a reaction save from Pablo Jara.
However, it was in the 45th minute that Tormenta broke the stalemate.
Defender Tobias Otieno played a long ball up to the left wing that Nick Akoto chested down in stride. Akoto raced up the pitch in a one-on-one situation and picked the correct side as Akira Fitzgerald came off his line to make the stop.
Richmond found its equalizer shortly after the restart.
In the 57th minute, the Kickers earned a corner from the right side. Michael Hornsby played a dangerous corner into the box that was deflected out for another corner. Sukow grab the ball and set up from the left corner.
The midfielder played a dangerous in-swinging ball that drifted on target and flew over the fingertips of Jara and into the side netting.
It marked Sukow’s second goal of the season and his second-straight match against Tormenta with a goal.
In the 75th minute, Nil Vinyals made his return to the pitch from injury after missing the last six matches. His entrance into the match was met with exuberant applause from the Kickers fans piled into the Ardent Craft Ales Barrel Room for the official watch party.
However, soon after, Richmond would have to play a man down in the final nine minutes and stoppage after Zaca Moran drew a second yellow card as the follow-through from his sliding interception took out the legs of his marker.
Richmond did well to close up shop and limit Tormenta’s opportunities to capitalize on the man advantage. Despite taking 14 shots in the second half, the hosts only placed one on target as the tenacious Kickers continued to throw their bodies in front of half chances. Richmond would finish the second half winning 10 of their 14 total tackles and 55 percent of their total duels.
The Kickers return home on Saturday, June 3rd to host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC during Military Appreciation Night presented by Tech For Troops. The doors at City Stadium are set to open at 5:45 p.m. ahead of the 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets are available at richmondkickers.com/tickets.
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