The Richmond Kickers locked up the final spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs, presented by Terminix on Oct. 19 after a 2-1 win over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC ensured the club would participate in the 25th postseason of its existence.

The Roos finished the 2023 League One campaign in 11th place, but an expanded playoff format and recognizable improvements in performance during 2024 made the playoffs a reality. Here are three reasons why they'll be the last team standing, and one reason why they won't.

1. Physicality

The Kickers are very reliant on their physicality when defending and in winning the ball back, which makes it very difficult for opponents who emphasize technical play. Richmond rank highly in a handful of defensive stats in League One, such as third place for both tackles won and duels won.

This physical play does create some unwanted contact though, displayed by their 308 total fouls conceded - the second-most in the league. While that does create deadball opportunities for their opponents, it also feeds into the mental side of the game. A towering header here, a hard should-to-shoulder tackle there, and Richmond's opponents may begin to feel like the next time they get the ball, someone is going to fly in and take it.

2. Aerial Prowess

Richmond are extremely competitive in the air, never letting a 50-50 duel go uncontested. The Roos rank third in total aerial duels engaged, collectively attributing to an aerial duel success rate of nearly 52%. These engagements are coming in both the offensive and defensive phases of play, but some statistics stick out from their opponent's side of the pitch.

The Kickers rank third in League One in headed goals scored with six total, having scored more headers than every team ahead of them in the standings, aside from Omaha. Half of this success can be credited to their crossing ability, as they are fourth for open-crossing accuracy, but the other half stems from the ease at which they get their head on the ball. Their future opponents are going to want to make sure they follow their marks into the box because if they don't, Richmond will make them pay.

3. Possession and Purpose

Alongside all of the talk of duels, Richmond are also able to calm the flow of the game down and get the ball moving with purpose. They are third in total possession maintained at 52.6%, putting them behind only Greenville and Madison - two sides that love to be on the ball and direct play. 

The ability to both fight hard to get the ball, and then set the tempo for which it moves around the field creates a headache for opposition, as any unnecessary haste to get the ball back will create an opening that Richmond can then expose. If that isn't the case, then the opposition likely will try to match some of that physicality themselves, which will turn into fouls and create a back-and-fourth mental game, falling right into the Roos' trap.

Why Richmond Won’t Win it All

Comparatively, Richmond have had one of the least potent attacks in League One as they have currently socred the second-least total goals, putting them behind every team that did not make the playoffs. It is worth noting that the Kickers are also the only team to have not been awarded a penalty the entire season, as well as the fact that they have the fourth-best shot-to-goal conversion rate. The latter statistic, however, may suggest an overall issue in chance creation rather than reinforcing ideas about the clinicality of their finishing.

Richmond are going to have to face opponents who will capitalize on their weaknesses, and being a team that has notably struggled to score while also being prone to conceding will give said opponents multiple options for how they want to approach this game. It will be a long road to potentially reach the USL League One Final for any team, but for Richmond, its weaknesses on both ends of the field will make it all the more difficult.