Rhode Island FC Advance to Eastern Conference Semi-Final
The Rhode Warriors at back at it again.
Rhode Island FC traveled to Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina for an Eastern Conference quarterfinal match-up against Charleston Battery, marking the second meeting of these two in the post season in just as many years. The Amber and Blue secured a victory with a 0-0 (5-3) shootout win.
The first half of the match turned out to be mostly uneventful as both teams struggled to generate goal scoring opportunities, leaving much to be desired for the second half.
Rhode Island made their first changes of the match in the 80th minute as Dwayne Atkinson and Albert Dikwa replaced Amos Shapiro-Thompson and Zachary Herivaux.
In the 82nd minute Noah Fuson was able to play a pass across the Battery’s box to a waiting Jojea Kwizera, whose shot from the edge of the box was kicked back out as the goalkeeper made the save.
The Ocean State made their second change of the match in the 88th minute as Marc Ybarra checked in for Clay Holstad.
Rhode Island almost had their winner in the 96th minute after a header from J.J. Williams deflected off of the crossbar and was scooped up by the Charleston keeper, whose resulting attempt to clear the ball from his box was intercepted by a waiting Kwizera who put the ball into the back of the net before being called off by the referee.
Following a hard foul in the 96th minute a scuffle broke out between the two teams, during which period of time both sides saw themselves go down a man as a result of red cards. Charleston’s Houssou Landru saw straight red following what the referee determined to be violent conduct, while Kwizera was shown his second yellow of the night following an argument with the referee.
Rhode Island made its third substitution to start the period of extra time, Aldair Sanchez in for Dwayne Atkinson. As the clock wound down and the prospect of penalty kicks loomed over them RIFC would make their final changes, with Maxi Rodriguez and Aimé Mabika replacing Karifa Yao and Frank Nodarse.
Williams stepped up to lead off the evening’s penalties, burying a well-placed kick past the keeper to the left side of the net. Charleston converted their first kick to keep things level.
Hamady Diop and Rodriguez successfully converted their penalties as Charleston made their second, but missed their third to give Rhode Island some room to breathe. With Hugo Bacharach and Aime Mabika both making their kicks as well, Rhode Island’s perfect penalty display was enough to carry them to the next round of USL playoffs.
Rhode Island will next travel to First Horizon Stadium in Cary, North Carolina to face-off against the North Carolina Courage in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.