Birmingham Legion Snaps Rhode Island Unbeaten Streak

Returning to Pawtucket following a win in Hartford in the USL Cup, Rhode Island FC fell back to Earth with a thud losing 3-1 to Birmingham Legion in the USL Championship.

After going behind early, RIFC leveled the score quickly thanks to Leo Alfonso's second goal of the year, but two goals early in the second half ensured that all three points were heading back south with the Legion. The Rhode Island players will certainly feel that they deserved more from their performance on "Star Wars Night", after teeing up 19 shots and commanding 61% possession, but proved far less clinical than Birmingham on the night.

It was the first time all season Rhode Island lost inside Centreville Bank Stadium, and the club's first league loss for over a month. Yet, the defeat sees Khano Smith's slip back down the Eastern Conference into 10th, nine points adrift from the conference leading Tampa Bay Rowdies on 17 points.

The Legion smashed open this contest early in the first half, after midfielder Sebastian Tregarthen fired home from inside the RIFC penalty area after barely three minutes of play. His first-time strike capped off a brilliant bit move from left-back Dawson McCartney, who ripped down the wing, beating multiple defenders, before launching a cross into the box, where Tregarthen was there to tap it home at the back post.

The defending in the build-up from Rhode Island paved the way for Birmingham's opener. Karifa Yao and Clay Holstad left a massive gap for McCartney to break into after the latter was dispossessed to spark the counter. Then on the subsequent cross, Aldair Sanchez was beat by both Tregarthen and Haitian striker Ronaldo Damus to the ball, as the Uruguayan got the final touch.

The Ocean State side did center themselves quickly, applying pressure almost instantly upon play resuming, forcing Birmingham keeper Jassem Koleilat into a diving save to keep out JJ Williams just a few minutes later. Both sides traded blows on the counter, before Leo Afonso knocked home the equalizer for Rhode Island on 17 minutes.

A slick counter from the hosts started with Holstad dispossessing Birmingham's Samuel McIllhatton in midfield before barreling towards goal. With Afonso arriving on his left, the American picked out his Brazilian teammate with a perfectly weighted through-ball that Afonso controlled and slotted home with conviction.

It was the Brazilian's second goal for the club since joining from Atlanta United on a free transfer this January, and his second strike in the last three league games.

In the blink of an eye, Rhode Island was back in the game with the wind firmly hitting its sails. The high intensity from the hosts would continue through to the halftime whistle, with Rhode Island firing 11 shots in the first 45, testing Koleilat's goal with six of them. By contrast, Birmingham's one shot on target of the half came on Tregarthen's opener after three minutes.

That script would flip in the second half.

With Birmingham still operating mainly on the counter, commanding just 32% of the ball, the Legion put six of their seven shots on target, finding the back of the net twice within the opening 12 minutes of the half. Rhode Island would take a further eight shots themselves, but only managed to hit the target once.

Rwandan defender Phanuel Kavita broke the deadlock for Birmingham in the 47th minute, slotting home from close range after a well-worked freekick routine caught out the Rhode Island defense.

Peter-Lee Vassell stepped up to swing the cross into the box, before taking a stutter step and backing off. As the entire Rhode Island line jumped to defend the ball they believed was flying in, it was McCartney who took the freekick, sending an outswinger into the six yard box, forcing RIFC keeper Koke Vegas to punch, only for it to end up right at the feet of the waiting Kavita to pounce on.

Going from bad to worse, Birmingham doubled the lead not long after, with Ronaldo Damus bagging his first goal of the season in the 57th minute. Tregarthen slipped in the Haitian with a perfectly executed through ball, splitting the gap between Sanchez and Hamady Diop for Damus to receive in the box, before turning and firing past Vegas at his far post.

Damus marked his 50th USL Championship goal with Cristiano Ronaldo's signature "suiiii" celebration, as he effectively put the game to bed for Birmingham.

Rhode Island continued to push for a way back into the game for the remainder of the match, but simply could not buy a shot on target if it tried. JJ Williams and Agustin Rodriguez both had night's to forget in the shooting department, combining for two blocked shots and five shots off target. The Ocean State side dominated the stat sheet, but a 5% shot conversion rate isn't going to cut it.

This result kicks Rhode Island back down the Eastern Conference standings into 10th on eight points, two points off Hartford Athletic in sixth and four points off the top five. It snaps the club's unbeaten streak in all competitions at six games, along with the long-running unbeaten streak at home, dating back to September 2025.

Head coach Khano Smith will need to get his men regrouped and refocused quickly, with the league-leading Tampa Bay Rowdies flying into TF Green this week for Rhode Island's next match on May 9.

RIFC has a good record over the Rowdies since joining the league at 3W-1L, including two shutout wins in 2025 by a combined score of 8-0. The Ocean State Boys will need to channel some of that energy this Saturday in Pawtucket, with kickoff set for 7:30 PM.