New England Weekly Review: April 23, 2024
New England Weekly Review: April 23, 2024
Looking at a historic first ever win, the U.S. Open Cup drop-out, and a potential transfer.
It took Rhode Island FC six USL Championship games and one U.S. Open Cup match to pick up the club’s first-ever win as they beat Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday. Khano Smith’s side has climbed up to eighth place and looks to obtain the first-ever home win in club history against last year’s USL Championship winners Phoenix Rising FC.
Rhode Island dropped out of the U.S. Open Cup earlier in the week as they lost in penalties to the Charlotte Independence after finishing 4-4 in extra time.
The New England Revolution put on a better showing in Toronto but failed to convert their chances and ultimately fell by the slimmest of differences to Toronto FC. The Revs continue to sit last in the MLS Eastern Conference and will host Messi’s Inter Miami FC next week.
Revs II tied Toronto FC II 1-1 in an away match on Friday but took two points as they overcame Toronto in a seven-round penalty shootout. The two points take them up to tenth place in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference.
Hartford Athletic faced off against New York City FC II in the U.S. Open Cup during the mid-week but crashed out as 16-year-old Maximo Carrizo scored a 109th-minute winner for NYCFC II.
Hartford fought well against San Antonio FC for around 75 minutes but were eventually out-muscled in a 1-3 defeat. With their second defeat of the season, the Green and Blue sit at sixth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference.
Here are some talking points that came from the weekend:
Noah Fuson is a Baller
As Khano Smith continues to find a tactical system that suits his squad, Noah Fuson has been stand-out either in the wider positions of up top. In the past few weeks, it seems that Fuson has established himself as the second striker to play along Albert Dikwa.
The 24-year-old forward boasts of speed and great dribbling skill that allows him to excel in one-on-one situations. In the last few games, he had just been missing the end product to contribute.
This weekend he capitalized with a goal and an assist to help Rhode Island get its first-ever win.
In the 25th minute, Fuson ran off of Dikwa before receiving a through ball from his striking partner. Fuson took on a Light’s defender with a ball-roll towards the byline, a step-over, a touch onto his left foot, and a pass across the box to find right back Stephen Turnbull. Turnbull smashed the ball towards the near post to break the deadlock.
Just before half-time, a Dikwa shot off a Turnbull cross was blocked and fell at Fuson’s feet. Fuson settled the ball and toe-poked it into the net to double Rhode Island’s lead.
Fuson signed this summer from Columbus Crew II where he reached double-digits for goals in the past two seasons. With a goal and two assists to his name already, Fuson has been a big part of Rhode Island’s attack. With his electric take-ons, and his ability to create chances, Fuson needs to find consistency if Rhode Island FC want to continue winning ways.
J.D. Gunn and Penalty Mind Games
As all MLS NEXTPro draws are resolved in penalty shoot-outs, Revs II goalkeeper John David Gunn found himself in front of his first professional shoot-out on his debut.
The 24-year-old Panamanian showed no signs of feeling pressure as he put on an impressive run of mind game shenanigans.
The first penalty of the shoot-out saw him reap his recompense as he waved his arms before pointing to the right side of his goal as the Toronto FC II taker ran up to the ball. As he dived to the right, Gunn watched as the ball soared over his goal.
For the second penalty he faced, Gunn started off with the arm waving and stopped in order to do a move not even Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez has dared to do, the macarena. Gunn didn’t even get his hands behind his head before he began to point to his head and point towards the ground as if to say, “I’m here.” However, he conceded as he dived the wrong way.
With the score at 1-1 for the third round, Gunn pointed to his head again before pointing to the right side of the goal. He then dived to his left as the shot went to where he pointed. Following the penalty, the referee and the linesman anticipated a coming together between Gunn and the penalty taker Hassan Ayari as they exchanged words.
The fourth penalty taker he faced saw Gunn do some more arm waving, imitate a bullfighter, clap his hands, and then point to the right side of the goal once again. This time he dived to his right and saved the penalty.
He conceded the fifth penalty, but went through with the whole of the macarena dance during the run up.
He was much more subtle during the two sudden death penalties and only did some arm waving as he conceded one.
With FIFA announcing new rules for goalkeepers during penalties, it was fun to see Gunn pull off some dance moves that may go without infringing the rules (depending on how disrespectful the referee considers the macarena to be).
The 6-foot-5 University of Memphis alumn is currently competing for a starting position with 19-year-old Max Weinstein.
A Week of Bangers and Golazos
They may have fallen out of the U.S. Open Cup, but Rhode Island F.C. scored three great goals this week. Out of the three Clay Holstad scored the best goal of the game and ended up at no. 8 on the SportsCenter’s Top 10.
Video courtesy of Football World.
While everyone prefers to see their team score great goals, it was hard to not be amazed by Prince Owusu’s back-heel finish for Toronto FC’s lone goal against the Revs.
Video Courtesy of Bleacher Report.
The finish is so perfect that it cleanly nutmegs Andrew Farrell and goes in at the far post leaving Henrich Ravas out of the picture. The only pity is that the Revs are the team conceding the goal, but it’s one of the best goals so far this MLS season.