The Richmond Kickers are making Orlando City sweat in the USL PRO race — they're unbeaten in 19 straight and just a point behind the first-place Lions thanks to the contributions of several MLS loan products.
Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ownby (above) helped Richmond bag four big points over the past week, especially scoring a goal and setting up the play that earned the Kickers the winning penalty kick in a 2-1 comeback win over the LA Blues on Sunday. D.C. United loanees Conor Shanosky and Andrew Dykstra went the distance in the win as well.
Collin Martin joined the Kickers on their road trip, but has yet to feature for the team. D.C. United’s latest Homegrown signing could make his debut when Richmond face the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Reserve League play on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Orlando City continued to make the most of their Sporting KC contingent. C.J. Sapong, Kevin Ellis, Christian Duke and Jon Kempin all featured in last Wednesday’s 0-0 draw in Pittsburgh, with Sapong and Ellis each getting a full 90 minutes. Sapong was subsequently recalled back to Sporting, as Ellis and Duke were the only MLSers to feature for the Lions in Saturday’s 3-1 win over third-place Harrisburg.
The City Islanders put three Philadelphia Union players on display in that one, with Don Anding going the full 90. The loss came as a frustration for Philadelphia’s Jimmy McLaughlin, who was hoping to replicate his success after scoring a goal in the team’s match vs. Tampa Bay just one day prior.
The slumping Rochester Rhinos made good account of themselves on Sunday when they drew 0-0 with the Montreal Impact in the MLS Reserve League. Two Revolution players saw time as Bilal Duckett went the distance and Matt Horth contributed 58 minutes. Rochester’s match earlier in the week vs. Wilmington was ended after 45 minutes due to inclement weather, though the official result — a 0-0 draw — stands.
The NASL remains on break in between its Spring and Fall seasons and will return Aug. 3.
For the full list of MLSers on loan, check out the list below:
USL PRO
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0, Orlando City SC 0; Wednesday, July 17
GK Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City) - Started, played 84 minutes
M Christian Duke (Sporting Kansas City) - Substitute, played 45 minutes
F C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City) - Started, played 90 minutes
D Kevin Ellis (Sporting Kansas City) - Started, played 90 minutes
Harrisburg City Islanders 2, VSI Tampa Bay 0; Friday, July 19
M Jimmy McLaughlin (Philadelphia Union) - Substitute, played 28 minutes, one goal
Rochester Rhinos 0, Wilmington Hammerheads 0; Friday, July 19
F Matt Horth (New England Revolution) - Started, played 45 minutes
D Tyler Polak (New England Revolution) - Started, played 45 minutes
Richmond Kickers 2, Phoenix FC Wolves 2; Friday, July 19
M Conor Shanosky (D.C. United) - Substitute, played 39 minutes
F Brian Ownby (Houston Dynamo) - Started, played 90 minutes
Orlando City SC 3, Harrisburg City Islanders 1; Saturday, July 20
M Christian Duke (Sporting Kansas City) - Started, played 90 minutes
D Kevin Ellis (Sporting Kansas City) - Started, played 90 minutes
M Jimmy McLaughlin (Philadelphia Union) - Started, played 62 minutes
F Cristhian Hernandez (Philadelphia Union) - Started, played 45 minutes
M Don Anding (Philadelphia Union) - Started, played 90 minutes
Richmond Kickers 2, LA Blues 1; Sunday, July 21
M Conor Shanosky (D.C. United) - Started, played 90 minutes
GK Andrew Dykstra (D.C. United) - Started, played 90 minutes
F Brian Ownby (Houston Dynamo) - Started, played 90 minutes, one goal
MLS RESERVE LEAGUE
Rochester Rhinos 0, Montreal Impact 0, Sunday, July 21
D Bilal Duckett (New England Revolution) - Started, played 90 minutes
F Matt Horth (New England Revolution) - Started, played 58 minutes
