The script for Ryan Richter couldn’t have been written any better.
After losing to the New York Cosmos in The Championship Final a year ago, as a member of Ottawa Fury FC, he stepped up to take a crucial penalty in the shootout a year later for his new team. After a scoreless 120 minutes against Indy Eleven, the Cosmos went on to earn back-to-back titles with a 4-2 penalty-kick shootout with Richter's clincher.
“I had a dream it was going to end like that because of the year that I had and all of the things that had to go right to get me here,” Richter said after the game. “I’m so glad I was able to help the boys achieve the goal of the season.”
The outside back started the year with the USL’s Bethlehem Steel after a stellar campaign with Ottawa the year before. Richter, 27, joined the Cosmos on Sept. 20 as the Fall Season was winding down. He made six appearances (five starts) as New York claimed the Fall Season title and the No. 1 seed in The Championship, the league's four-team postseason tournament.
“We appreciate him coming,” Savarese said. “He helped us to cover an area we needed to cover. He gave us a lot to be able to reach this goal. He came at an appropriate moment. He showed a lot of motivation and a lot of willingness to be able to win the championship.
“The most important part is he integrated himself into the group very easily.”
After seeing Jairo Arrieta, Adam Moffat, and Ayoze knock in their penalties, Richter stepped up with little pressure. Indy had already missed two penalties after Eamon Zayed’s shot kissed off both posts and Jon Busch sent his attempt skywards.
“Three guys made the penalties before and, since they missed two, there’s not that much pressure in the situation,” he said.
After seeing his hopes of lifting the Soccer Bowl Trophy dashed in New York, in a 3-2 loss, a year ago, Richter made the most of his second chance to win the NASL title, this time doing so in a Cosmos jersey.
“It’s funny how life works,” Richter said. “This whole year I didn’t think I’d be here winning the championship with the New York Cosmos.”
