CARY, North Carolina, CMC – Guyana’s Gregory Richardson joined Jamaican Nicholas Addlery and Randi Patterson, of Trinidad and Tobago, as scorers this weekend in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division.
Prolific Richardson propelled Carolina RalHawks to a 2-0 win over Cleveland City Stars while Addlery and Patterson also featured in wins for their teams, Puerto Rico Islanders and Charleston Battery, respectively.
Richardson scored the game’s first goal in the 82nd minute at the RailHawks’ home WakeMed Soccer Park.
After hustling the ball away from an opposing defender after a rebound, Richardson smashed a strong 20-yard shot into the back of the net.
“It was a good goal,” Richardson said after the match.
“It was a good goal, good timing (late in the game). Good goal for getting the lead, especially for the team,” added Richardson, who had scored on debut for the RailHawks in late July and hit a hat-trick in his next game to help them beat Miami FC 4-0.
Richardson also featured in the second goal. In the 90th minute, he took a shot from 20 yards that was initially blocked by the Cleveland goalkeeper and Daniel Paladini latched onto the rebound to score.
The Puerto Rico Islanders gave their home fans at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon a feast of goals, hammering four unanswered strikes past Miami FC.
Cristian Arrieta opened the scoring in the 11th minute and Addlery made it 2-0 on 32 minutes.
Addlery, a Jamaica international, made Miami pay for a bad defensive error. He intercepted a pass from Miami defender Chris Williams and smashed home a powerful right-footer.
Haiti international Fabrice Noel set up Josh Hansen to score in the 57th minute for the 3-0 lead and Scott Jones (81st) completed the rout.
Patterson got a first-half goal for visiting Charleston to beat Vancouver Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium.
Darren Spicer (24th) gave Charleston a 1-0 lead and Patterson made it 2-0 in the 35th minute.
Midfielder Scott Buete intercepted the ball and slipped a pass to Patterson, who surged through the middle and finished neatly into the bottom left corner for Charleston, who also had Jamaican Obrien Woodbine in their side.
Marcus Haber (80th) got a consolation goal for Vancouver, whose St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) international was unable to add to his team-leading eight goals.
