The Richmond Kickers claimed the USL Second Division title
with a
2-1 win over the defending champion Charlotte Eagles Saturday before
3,288 fans in Richmond.
The Kickers scored on a penalty kick by Robert Ssejjemba in
the ninth minute and a goal by
Chris Carrieri, the former MLS SuperDraft No. 1 pick, in
the 33rd minute. Ross
Spencer's
consolation goal came in the 90th minute. The victory was the Kickers'
fifth in five games against Charlotte in 2006. It was their first
meeting in the playoffs, though they shared similar histories.
Both
were formed in 1993 and both went into the USL-2 final with two
championships -- the 1995 double (USL's Premier League and U.S. Open
Cup) for Richmond and 2000 and 2005 USL-2 titles for Charlotte. Both
clubs had stints in the USL-1 (the former A-League). Charlotte spent
three years (2001-03) in the USL's top level before moving back down.
Richmond's last season in the USL-1 was 2005 when it lost in the final.
USL
RESULTS
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