With their star center midfielder, Luke Mulholland out with a Hamstring injury, Wilmington would have to look elsewhere if they were going to get past a strong Richmond team. Right from the get go the Hammerheads pushed the attack, controlling possession for the first 20 minutes of the game. The first scoring opportunity of the game came when Andriy Budnyy took on a few Richmond defenders and blasted a left-footed shot from just inside the box on the left side, but the Kickers goalkeeper made a great diving save to keep it level.
Richmond looked uncomfortable for the majority of the first half, sending several passes out of bounds. However, a couple Hammerheads fouls deep in their own half opened the door for the Kickers to capitalize. Fortunately, both free kick attempts were blocked.
Wilmington controlled possession for the remainder of the half, but couldn't get anything going offensively. The long balls weren't doing anything as Richmond played more defensively as the half progressed. Going into halftime the score remained 0-0.
#5 for the Richmond Kickers was yellow carded in the 47th minute for throwing an elbow on Tanner Wolfe deep in the Hammerheads territory. Moments later Paul Nicholson was cautioned as well for a double leg tackle in Richmond's defensive half.
Tanner Wolfe's header from the top of the box in the 52nd minute off a cross from Dylan Riley sailed wide of the net. Tom Parrat's shot from distance in the 57th minute also sailed high after a great build up by the Hammerheads. Moments later Garreth Evans went down after colliding heads with a Richmond player. Evans remained down for several minutes before coming out on his own will. The Hammerheads played with 10 men for the next few minutes until Evans returned with a fresh new jersey(#20) and a bandage around his head.
Richmond had a 3 on 2 break in the 70th minute but the shot was blocked and cleared by Dylan Riley. The Kickers found the back of the net in the first half and again in the second half, but fortunately for the Hammerheads, both were called back due to fouls in the box.
Richard Jata and Andres Cuero were subbed in for Tanner Wolfe and Jack Avesyon in the 73rd minute of play.
The best chance by either side came in the 90th minute when E. Elcock weaved his way through the Hammerheads defense, but a huge save by Brock Duckworth kept the scored tied nil-nil. It had to be the save of the night! A few last ditch efforts were made by Richmond, but the Hammerheads snuffed them out. Now we head to extra time.
Wow! A huge save by Brock Duckworth right out the gates to keep the score tied. The Hammerheads had a great opportunity off a Chris Bagley throw-in in the 93rd minute that was headed just over the crossbar.
Tom Parrat was cautioned in the 99th minute for dissent. A few minutes later, #23 for Richmond was cautioned for a hard foul on Richard Jata near midfield. At the end of the first overtime period, the Richmond Kickers had more opportunities, but Wilmington maintained the majority of the possession.
Chris Murray came on for Manny Guzman in the second overtime period due to leg cramps. Diego Barrera checked in for Paul Nicholson a few minutes before the end of the second overtime period.
The Hammerheads were awarded a free kick just outside the box with no time remaining in the second overtime period. I thought Richard Jata was going to win the game with one his spectacular free kicks, but Andriy Budnyy took it instead, sending his team's final attempt in the second overtime straight into the wall.
With the entire Wilmington midfield already subbed out and Chris Banks replaced by Chris Bagley, it was all in the hands of the subs and Brock Duckworth to advance to the semifinals.
Penalty Shootout
Richmond would kick first to start the shootout...
(1-1) - Andriy Budnyy places his attempt to the left side and in
(2-2) - Richard Jata drills his attempt towards the left post and in
(3-3) - Diego Barrera puts his attempt in the side netting just inside the right post
(4-4) - Andres Cuero's attempt is stopped initially by the keeper, but trickles just inside the left post and in to keep it tied at 4 a piece going into the final kick.
(5-4) - Chris Bagley shoots to the right side, but the Richmond keeper gets a hand on it before it bounces off the inside of the post. The goalie gets up and dives to save it on its way back across the net.
The Richmond Kickers win on penalty kicks (5-4) and advance to the American Division Semifinals
