Hearts of Pine play to draw with Richmond Kickers

PORTLAND HEARTS OF PINE SETTLES FOR HARD-FOUGH DRAW IN RICHMOND

The Portland Hearts of Pine escaped Virginia with a point Saturday night, playing the Richmond Kickers to a 1-1 stalemate in USL League One action at City Stadium.

Matteo Kidd provided the visitors' lone highlight, depositing his first goal of the season into the back of the net in the 37th minute. The sequence began when JayTee Kamara slipped a no-look pass through the Richmond defense, leaving Kidd one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The midfielder made no mistake, slotting his attempt into the lower left corner.

The Hearts of Pine appeared to have doubled their advantage earlier when Serigne Mbacke Faye headed home a Diego Gonzalez free kick, but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside, correctly nullifying the tally.

Portland goalkeeper Hunter Morse kept his team in front through sheer will during a relentless Richmond surge. The netminder denied Darwin Espinal six times in the opening half alone, including a diving stop in the 43rd minute that clanged off the post. Morse continued his heroics after halftime, turning aside back-to-back quality chances in the 50th minute to preserve the one-goal margin.

Richmond's pressure finally paid off in the 74th minute. Owen O'Malley delivered a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box, where Joshua Kirkland pounced on the opportunity to tap home the equalizer.

The Kickers nearly completed the comeback in stoppage time when Faye headed another Gonzalez corner kick inches over the crossbar.

Portland (5-9-8) has now gone seven matches without a league victory, with five of those contests ending in draws. The Hearts of Pine sit 17th in the 18-team standings.

Richmond (5-12-4) remains in 16th place with 19 points from 21 appearances.

The Hearts of Pine return home next Saturday for a 7 p.m. showdown with Fort Wayne FC at Fitzpatrick Stadium.