The Virginia Beach Mariners disrupted the Richmond Kickers last night with a game plan that worked to perfection - almost.
Outplayed and out of sorts much of the way, the Kickers managed a couple of goals in a seven-minute span of the second half for a 2-1 victory at University of Richmond Stadium.
The playmaking of Kevin Jeffrey was the difference. He sent a looping pass to Matthew Delicate, who broke between a couple of would-be defenders for the first Richmond goal. Then on a free kick in the 60th minute, the veteran forward from Trinidad ripped a low curling ball into the penalty area, and Joey Worthen tipped it home at the edge of the 6-yard box.
It was Delicate's third goal of the young season. Worthen's first proved the game-winner when the Mariners (0-2) got one back in the 62nd minute. A deflected ball in the box bounded to former English First Division star Darren Caskey, who calmly booted it home from 15 yards.
Virginia Beach outshot the Kickers 7-6, and goalkeeper Matt Nelson was credited with only one save. Ronnie Pascale had four for Richmond (2-0), including a game-saving stop of a header by reserve Hamsi Amani-Dove in second-half stoppage.
"We changed our formation a little bit and tried to match up better with them," said Mariners coach Shawn McDonald. "Normally, we just go out and play our game, but we decided to throw something different at them."
The timing between Delicate and Jeffrey on the first goal couldn't have been better. As Jeffrey popped the ball his way, Delicate barely stayed onsides before splitting the defense. The second-year pro from VCU settled the ball as Nelson approached, chipped it wide right then retrieved it, took a few strides then dumped it into the vacant net.
"That should never happen," McDonald said. "[Delicate] is not that quick of a player. There was no reason for us to play an offsides situation [trap] there. We [should] just match up and stay with our guys, which was the game plan. It was a killer. Make them earn it."
Jeffrey was about 10 yards outside of and to the left of the box for the free kick that would be the difference in the game. The wonder of it was there was so much room between players on the right and left in front of Nelson. Worthen came sliding in to knock the ball in with his left foot.
"You kind of run away from the space you want to leave open, then come back to it - and KJ hit a great ball," Worthen said.
It was not a game for the faint of heart. The longer it went, the rougher it got. Neither team was pleased with the work of referee Charles Mitchell. McDonald complained on numerous occasions. So did Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw. At one point, he had to restrain Worthen after he was hit in the face with no call.
"They had a good tactical plan and played very well defensively," Cowlishaw said of the Mariners. "We made some halftime adjustments, and that's where the game was won."
EXTRA KICKS: Richmond's best scoring chance in the first half was courtesy of Virginia Beach defender Joe Morelli. Off the Kickers' only corner kick of the opening 45 minutes, Morelli inadvertently struck the ball backward and it glanced off the right post.
Virginia Beach ------------------------- 0 1 - 1
Richmond ------------------------- 0 2 - 2
Scoring: 1, Richmond, Delicate 3 (Jeffrey), 53rd minute; 2, Richmond, Worthen 1 (Jeffrey), 60th; 3, Virginia Beach, Caskey 1 (unassisted), 62nd.
Shots: Virginia Beach 7-6
Saves: Virginia Beach, Nelson 1; Richmond, Pascale 4.
Corner kicks: Virginia Beach 6-3
Offsides: Richmond 2-0
Fouls: Virginia Beach 13-10
Yellow cards: Brown, Rich, 3rd; Bilyk, VB, 18th; Shak, VB, 34th; R. Williams, Rich, 77th; Danbusky, VB, 79th; Fox, Rich, 84th
Referee: Charles Mitchell
Attendance: 2,354