The Los Angeles Blues (who play home games in Fullerton) and the Richmond Kickers concluded the 2011 USL PRO regular season with their second scoreless draw in as many games in a game played Sunday night at Norco College.
The Blues travel to Harrisburg to start the playoffs on Friday night.
The Kickers take a 12-7-5 record and 41 points into the USL PRO Quarterfinal match-up against the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium this Friday, August 19.
Battling the Blues for the second time in three days, the Kickers looked for the first goal of the weekend in the 22nd minute when midfielder Evan Harding served a cross into the box from the right wing. His well-timed ball found Shaka Bangura within scoring position but the forward’s volley from point-blank range soared skyward.
Five minutes later, the Blues tested the Kickers defense when a long ball played Peter Byers in behind the defense, but Kickers midfielder Gerson dos Santos stripped him of the ball seconds before he could pull the trigger.
Both teams entered the second half with a fresh lineup, but it was the Blues who were first to knock on the door. Second half substitute Mike Randolph played Byers through to goal in the 64th minute. With only the ‘keeper to beat, Byers fired a determined strike from 12 yards but the Kickers 6’6” netminder was able to block the shot to preserve his first clean sheet of the season.
Richmond saw their best chance of the half fall by the wayside seven minutes later when a cross from the left flank found Bangura inside the box. He laid the ball off to an onrushing Nozomi Hiroyama eight yards from the target, but the Japanese international pulled his shot off-frame and goalkeeper Oscar Dautt was able to deny the opportunity, sending the Kickers back to the east coast with just one point on the night.
The Blues will travel to Harrisburg to play in the first round of the Playoffs on Friday night 4:30 PM PT
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