Koke Vegas Reigns for Draw Kings: RIFC Draws Against Loudoun United
A nearly historic first regular season for RIFC
Rhode Island FC seem to have fallen back to Earth after their high-flying run. They’ve taken thirty-four shots over their last two matches, and have only one goal and two points to show for all the effort, having drawn both games.
This also marks the second time RIFC has looked like the less-threatening team on the pitch despite outshooting their opponents. Increasingly, the old adage from The IT Crowd appears to fit the Tide like a glove, when it comes to scoring; they always try to walk it in. That doesn’t mean that everything about Saturday’s away draw against Loudoun United FC was discouraging — even if much of it was — here’s the good and the bad.
First, the good — the really good — RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas is certainly Rhode Island’s most notable bright spot. I haven’t always been his biggest supporter, but tonight he proved beyond doubt why head coach Khano Smith keeps going back to him as his number one. He made a number of key saves against difficult shots — including against a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time — and earned Rhode Island FC the point almost single-handedly. Everything Loudoun United FC shot at Vegas tonight ended up stopped cold, and the veteran goalkeeper is surely tonight’s man of the match. Without him, Rhode Island FC wouldn’t be walking away with any points at all.
Now for the bad.
RIFC striker Albert “Chico” Dikwa has struggled mightily this season, his first in Smithfield. After scoring 22 goals for Pittsburgh in the USL Championship last season, the reigning Golden Boot winner came to Rhode Island with a lot of hype.
He has not lived up to that point so far this season.
Through 23 matches Chico has only seven goals and three assists. He has looked hesitant and unsure of himself for the majority of the season.
Tonight encapsulated that, as the striker found himself in a clear scoring position on a handful of occasions and then wasted every scoring chance that he earned. I’m not sure what may be causing these issues for the RIFC striker, but he’ll need to work them out if Rhode Island FC are going to start winning again.
Rounding it off, Rhode Island winger Jojea Kwizera (who made a few good plays otherwise) gifted Loudoun a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time when he took out an opposing player in his own box. Vegas saved that penalty but it was still a danger the team didn’t nearly need to face.
Rhode Island FC now have thirteen draws through 25 matches this season. If they draw only two of their remaining nine games, they’ll set a new USL Championship record for draws in a season. If they continue playing the way they are, they may well set a record that the USL Championship will never exceed.
For now, the Tide remain in eighth place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, on the very edge of the playoff race with 34 points.
Rhode Island FC are back in action next Saturday, August 31, at 7:30 pm ET as they prepare to take on Smith’s former club, Birmingham Legion FC at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, Rhode Island. They last played against Birmingham on July 17 when they won 3-1 while playing away.