Triumph Falls to Kickers in USL Cup

GE Vernova Park Supporter's Section Photo by Wade Wimberly

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The Richmond Kickers scored a pair of second half goals to defeat the Greenville Triumph 2-1 in Prinx Tires USL Cup Group 6 action played Saturday night in the Upstate.

Both teams were already eliminated from the knockout rounds entering the match and both teams used a mixture of players looking to build some momentum and confidence for the USL League One remaining matches.  Greenville made seven changes from their squad that tied Sarasota 0-0 midweek.

After a scoreless first half, Greenville took the lead off a Lucas Meek goal in the 55^th minute only to see a deflected cross be turned in as an own goal for Richmond to level the match in the 60^th minute.  Richmond took all the points in the 80^th minute as Beckett Howell scored to break the hearts of the Triumph fans in GE Vernova Park.

The match was very even in the first half and went to the intermission tied 0-0 after both teams had traded some near misses and goalkeeper saves in the first half. 

Lucas Meek broke the tie with his goal in the 50^th minute to put the hosts ahead.  A corner kick swung in from the right side was contested inside the box before falling to the feet of William Akio who found the ball with his back to goal.  Akio without hesitation, backheeled the ball through a crowded box right to the goalmouth where Meek got a first touch with his right foot to keep the ball alive and a second touch with his left foot to put the ball in the net and the Triumph ahead 1-0.

Just five minutes later, the Kickers leveled the match on an own goal as the season of unlucky bounces continued for the Triumph.  A contested Kickers’ cross from the right flank was deflected twice as the ball cruelly spun off the second sliding Triumph defender and into the Triumph net wrong-footing Seth Torman in the Greenville nets.  With things now level, Richmond pressed for the winner and found the lead in the 80th minute.

Richmond swung in a corner kick from the right flank to the crowded back post area where the ball was misplayed by a Greenville defender back across the goal mouth to Beckett Howell standing all alone at the top of the goal box.  Beckett originally watched the ball sail over his head on the corner kick and then he immediately sprang back into the action to react first and head the ball into the empty net.

Richmond closed out the final minutes of the match and claimed the 2-1 USL Cup win.  Both teams earned 3 points in USL Cup action with a record of 1W-3L-0T and based on goal differential tiebreakers Greenville finished in fourth place in Group 6 while Richmond finished in sixth place.

Both teams now return to USL League One play as Greenville travels to Fort Wayne FC on July 18 and Richmond travels to Forward Madison on July 15. 

Greenville are currently in 15^th place in USL1 with 14 points while Richmond is in 16^th place in USL1 with 12 points.

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