TERZAGHI RETURNS ,,, CAITLIN SNUBBED ... AND MORE STUFF
EMILIANO TERZAGHI finally made his first appearance of the season but nobody (or nothing), it seems, can right the offensively-challenged Richmond Kickers’ (cliché alert) sinking ship. Saturday night at City Stadium, they were held scoreless for the third time in five games even though most of the USL League One match was played in the Charlotte end … The final score was 1-0 when, in first-half stoppage time, the Richmond defense was caught ball-watching, and JUAN OBREGON slipped between the back three to take a return pass from LUIS ALVAREZ and, unmarked, scored from five yards out. Kickers’ goalkeeper PABLO JARA never had a chance … From a bad-angle replay seen on ESPN-plus, it appeared Obregon was offsides. If so, it would mark the second time this season here that your Kickers lost 1-0 when victimized by a linesman failing to recognize a rival player was obviously behind the defense before taking a breakaway pass and score the only goal (May 18 versus Greenville) … Saturday’s first of four meetings with the Independence belonged to the Kickers in the second half after an early strike by Obregon that forced Jara to make a diving save. In his post-game remarks, Richmond Coach DARREN SAWATSKY said his side had possession 67 per cent of the time following the midway break … including 53 trips in the final third of the field – 18 touches inside the 18-yard box … In other words, the Kickers had more than enough opportunities to turn this one into a rout but, for all the home team threatened, it managed few shots on goal. Mostly, the Kickers either passed the ball when they should have shot it or shot it wide or high or had the ball blocked … Charlotte keeper AUSTIN PACK was credited with only two saves … The game finally ended after 100 minutes of frustration for Richmond … including a couple of non-calls despite Kickers getting knocked down in the box, a soccer no-no that, by rule, should result in a penalty kick … The major highlight for a near-capacity crowd of 5,000-plus was the entrance of Terzaghi in the 84th minute. The 31 year old native of Argentina, who joined the Kickers in 2020 and became an unprecedented three-time USL League One MVP and leading scorer, suffered an injury in 2023 … and there was some question whether he would play again. “We had some setbacks [during recovery], and that messed with my confidence,” he said via an interpreter after the game. “… but things went well. There was no pain.” … For a team that is 2-4-2 in eighth place with eight points – and in danger of falling further because No. 9 Chattanooga (seven points) had two games in hand and No. 10 Northern Colorado (five points) had played three fewer than Richmond – Terzaghi’s return was crucial. “He’s a special player,” Sawatsky said. “This guy can score goals. You take him out of our lineup, and I don’t have a replacement, do I? We need Emy to be successful.”
OH, DARN! CAITLIN CLARK was left off the U.S.
Olympic team roster. That will show her … “Brilliant,”
wrote Stephen from D.C. “Now no one will watch the
games.’
THANK GOODNESS! Byren Munich’s THOMAS
TUCHEL has taken himself out of Manchester
United’s search for a new coach. He previously was in
charge at EPL Chelsea … where he made few friends
despite some success … Meanwhile, ManU (under
new management) plans (hopes?) to be very active
once the transfer window opens Friday (June 14). Most
wanted from a team that finished eighth is play-making
captain BRUNO FERNANDEZ but among those also
available – for the right price – is MARCUS
RASHFORD, who didn’t get along with coach ERIK
TEN HAG, was in and out of the lineup and scored a
career-low eight goals. The veteran forward has four
years remaining on a contract that calls for 360,000
pounds A WEEK. That’s more than $481,000
American … The Red Devils need defensive help and,
with CASIMERO bound for Saudi Arabia and
CHRISTIAN ERICKSONalso not expected to
return, they’ll need to add a first-class midfielder (or
two) as well … There remains a slight chance ten Hag
will be retained … GARETH SOUTHGATE, whose
contract as coach of England’s national team runs out
in December, remains a candidate despite trying to
downplay his interest.
Until next time ...
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