skip navigation

Moar Leads Steel FC Past Kickers

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/06/18, 6:59PM EDT

Share

Winger’s goal and assist boosts Bethlehem to second win of season


Photo courtesy Bethlehem Steel FC

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Santi Moar had a goal and assist to lead Bethlehem Steel FC to a 3-1 victory against the Richmond Kickers on Sunday evening at Goodman Stadium to earn its second win of the season. Bethlehem hit the crossbar in just the third minute as a free kick by Adam Najem from the right found Moar, whose flicked header just missed the top-left corner for the hosts. Richmond was then forced into an early substitution when Guiseppe Gentile suffered an injury, but soon after his replacement, Heviel Cordoves, opened the scoring with a sharp first-time finish in the 14th minute off a low cross by Austin Yearwood. Najem hit the woodwork again for Steel FC in the 13 minutes later with a first-time shot that came back off the crossbar, but in the 29th minute Matt Real struck a low finish to the right corner to level the score for the hosts. Moar hit the woodwork for a second time early in the second half with a near-post effort from the left side of the penalty area that pinged the outside of the upright, while Bethlehem’s Drew Skundrich had a shot headed away to deny a goal by Mekeil Williams as the hosts continued to press. Steel FC’s Brandon Allen also forced a big save from Kickers goalkeeper Travis Worra before Skundrich sent the rebound high, but with 22 minutes to go Moar picked up a short corner from the left, broke into the penalty area and curled a low shot into the right corner of the net. The Kickers hit the post themselves in the 74th minute when Raul Gonzalez came close to an equalizer for the visitors with a chipped finish from the right side of the penalty area, but with seven minutes to go Chris Nanco put home a penalty kick after Aidan Apodaca was brought down in the area to seal victory for Steel FC.

Scoring:
14’ – RIC – Heviel Cordoves (Austin Yearwood)
29’ – BST – Matt Real (Santi Moar)
68’ – BST – Santi Moar (Adam Najem)
83’ – BST – Chris Nanco (penalty)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Steel FC hadn’t taken victory since it welcomed Richmond to Goodman Stadium at the start of the season, and while the host’s victory wasn’t as emphatic as on that occasion it certainly seemed as though the matchup played into Bethlehem’s hands on a soggy afternoon in the Lehigh Valley. Despite giving up the opening goal, Steel FC was on top for most of the game and would have taken the lead prior to Santi Moar’s 68th-minute finish if not for the frame of Richmond’s goal and took home a deserved repeat victory.

  • 2. After a stellar rookie season, Santi Moar’s starting opportunities had been somewhat limited to start his second season with Steel FC but on Sunday the winger showed again why he finished as runner-up for the USL Rookie of the Year award with a standout display that was capped by his first goal of the season. Making his fourth start in seven games this year, Moar was a terror to Richmond’s defense for much of the game, setting up Matt Real’s first-half goal while hitting the woodwork twice before he put home what proved to be the game-winner in a superb attacking display.

  • 3. The Kickers had vowed their second trip to Goodman Stadium this season would end in different fashion to the first, but after Heviel Cordoves’ opening goal the visitors never seemed to get the measure of Bethlehem’s attack in a game that felt like a step back after recent progress. Richmond will be glad it won’t have to visit Goodman Stadium again this season, and will head home to prepare for what could be a nice opportunity to pick up points against a Tampa Bay Rowdies side that has struggled on the road for most of the season.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Santi Moar, Bethlehem Steel FC – Moar recorded one goal, one assist, four key passes and hit the woodwork twice as he helped Steel FC remain on the front foot for much of the game.

Upcoming Games:

Bethlehem Steel FC at Charleston Battery – May 12, 7 p.m. ET, MUSC Health Stadium

Richmond Kickers vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies – May 12, 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos