Rhode Island FC Continues Dreadful Form

At least the New York Cosmos are coming back I guess

Any team starting a match with four forward attacking options of attacking should be expected to put up a good fight and to score. Instead, RIFC started with both J.J. Williams and Albert Dikwa on the bench.

In the first half, Rhode Island FC offered absolutely nothing going forward despite dominating possession throughout. Goalkeeper Jackson Lee deserves all the credit for keeping the match scoreless.

The second half brought more of the same, as Indy striker Romario Williams scored off an assist from midfielder Aodhan Quinn in the 55th. The Rhode Island defense simply broke down under the weight of Indy’s offensive pressure, which had no outlet because RIFC could not get the ball any meaningful distance from their own half for any meaningful length of time, at least until Dikwa came on right before Indy scored. Once Williams and Dikwa were both on the pitch — and RIFC wingback and creator Jojea Kwizera bizarrely taken off — Rhode Island FC put up all the fight and pressure they’d been missing for the match.

It meant nothing. It was all too little, too late.

RIFC didn’t even get a single shot on target, despite beating out the Indy Eleven in nearly every other major statistical category. With the 1-0 loss — which was Rhode Island’s eighth of the season (and also the eighth time they’ve been shutout) — Rhode Island FC have fallen out of the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference playoff spots, and retain only the grace of remaining above Hartford Athletic.

The Latics, however, are just five points back from RIFC, winning their own match 2-1 and are coming to Pawtucket for a double-header in both USL Championship and USL Jagermeister Cup play, in that order, starting Saturday, July 19 at 4:00 PM ET and again on Saturday, July 26 at 7:00 PM ET.