Match Preview | Cleveland SC v Richmond Kickers
Onto the Second Round!
Cleveland SC’s 2023 campaign continues into the Second Round of the 108th Edition of the U.S. Open Cup tonight, April 6th at 7:00pm EST as the club visits USL 1 side Richmond Kickers in Richmond, Virginia at City Stadium.
Vlad Muresan and the players are determined to move onto the Third Round for the first time in club history and set a major cupset. This will be Cleveland SC’s second consecutive year in the second round and the first-ever meeting between the two clubs as both set their sights on the third round.
Ticket details in Richmond
General admission tickets are available for $16 at City Stadium. Fans over 21 years of age can enjoy a $1 PBR Happy Hour Special taking place during the first 75 minutes after gates open. Tickets can be purchased here
Follow the match live
Cleveland SC’s second-round matchup is one of eight selected matches to be featured live on the B/R Football YouTube Channel and Bleacher Report App. The match is the only Open Cup match to be broadcasted live to a worldwide audience on Thursday, April 6th.
YouTube Live Stream is located here
Watch party
Looking to cheer on Cleveland SC while they’re on the road? Come out and join fans alike at Iggy’s Bar in Lakewood (13405 Madison Ave.). The party will start at 6:30pm, with kickoff against the Richmond Kickers at 7:00pm.
Our opponent
In 2022, the Kickers reached the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup and were defeated by MLS side Charlotte FC. Richmond previously won the historic tournament in 1995 and is one of the last non-MLS sides to win the trophy. The Kickers were upset at home in the Second Round by Christos FC in 2017.
This is the 31st season for the Kickers and their fifth in USL League One. Last season they won the regular season title under head coach, Darren Sawatzky, but the season was cut short in the semi-final playoffs against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Forward Emiliano Terzaghi and three-time USL League One MVP led the league in goals for the third consecutive season finishing with 18 goals in 2022. Richmond returned most of its roster in 2023 but did lose MVP candidate and Assists Champion Jonathan Bolanos along with Young Player of the Year Ethan Bryant who both transferred into the MLS. 35-year-old goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald is in his 13th professional season and was 2021 Goalkeeper of the Year. Justin Sukow, formerly of Forward Madison, who Cleveland SC faced last year in the Second Round of the Open Cup, scored the opening goal in the 3-0 defeat.
Club Notes
Head Coach Vlad Muresan names 16 available players for its Second Round matchup in Richmond as he recalls eleven players who featured in its First Round 1-0 win against Lionsbridge FC. Among the newest additions is Corban McAvinew who has featured for Cleveland since 2019 and will be making his second appearance in the Open Cup and Aidan Bozak who joined the club in 2022. Danny Kalic, Bobby Tsirambidis, and Marcus Vinicius Pereira will be given the opportunity to represent Cleveland Soccer Club for the first time and we would like to welcome them to the club.
Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Pedro Alves, Connor Robinson
DEFENDERS: Boban Cancar, Chris Cvecko, Danny Kalic*, Corban McAvinew*, Kieran Toland, Bobby Tsirambidis*
MIDFIELDERS: Aidan Bozak*, Parker Csiszar, Skye Harter, Danny Koniarczyk, Marcus Vinicius Pereira*
FORWARDS: Tom Beck, Nick Felician, Petar Janjetovic
*New Roster Additions
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