RICHMOND, VA - Former USL League One MVP and Golden Boot winner, Emiliano Terzaghi made his return to City Stadium in Richmond when his new club Sarasota Paradise visited the Kickers. Photographer Shawn Payne was on assignment for Protagonist and was able to capture the crowd and the squads battling soaring temperatures during a severe heat wave in Virginia.

The Kickers are in a tough spot: second to last place in the table, with just 10 points from 14 matches played, their long-time coach Darren Sawatsky departed the club and Richmond have been eliminated from the Prinx Tires USL Cup. Despite this, a fair crowd was on hand to cheer on the Roos as they were coming off a draw and looking for any type of positive result.

The match finished 0-0 and in the end, both squads looked exhausted. With two draws and two points in the right direction, Richmond now head up to Madison, Wisconsin, to play the next leg in their Henny Derby against the Mingos of Forward Madison.

Sarasota Paradise are also now eliminated from the USL Cup, finishing second bottom in their group. Following this trip to RVA, the Paradise were able to pick up another draw away to Greenville Triumph and host a struggling FC Naples in league play next Saturday.

written by Joshua Duder
photos by Shawn Payne