Rhode Island FC Continues to Struggle
Draw Kings
Rhode Island FC and Loudoun United FC traded blows for 90 minutes on Saturday night, with neither side able to break through in a 0-0 draw at Centreville Bank Stadium. Both teams saw chances glance off the frame, both keepers delivered critical saves, and the scoreboard never moved.
The home side nearly landed an early punch inside the first minute when JJ Williams intercepted a loose ball deep in Loudoun territory and slipped it to Matthew Corcoran. His curling strike from the edge of the box forced Hugo Fauroux into a sharp recovery save. Minutes later, Maxi Rodriguez saw his shot deflected wide, and Williams’ header from a Noah Fuson pass was gathered up by Fauroux.
The visitors’ first real look came midway through the half. Keegan Tingey broke down the right and whipped in a low cross for Zach Ryan, whose flick at the near post trickled just wide. Soon after, Amos Shapiro-Thompson threaded a perfect ball to Williams in open space, but Loudoun defender Yanis Leerman got back in time to block the shot.
Late in the first 45 minutes, the game turned frantic. Loudoun’s Drew Skundrich found himself unmarked in front of goal but saw his effort blocked on the line by Hugo Bacharach. Seconds before the break, Bacharach nearly scored himself, nodding Aldair Sanchez’s pinpoint cross past the far post.
Loudoun pressed after halftime, with Abdellatif Aboukoura curling narrowly wide and Arquímides Ordóñez pulling a shot past the same upright in quick succession. Rhode Island’s best chance came on a chaotic corner in the 62nd: two shots hacked toward goal in a crowded six-yard box, both kept out by a sprawling Fauroux.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the final stretch was in the 78th minute, when Omari Glasgow smashed a long-range attempt off the woodwork. It was the last major chance of the night, sealing a point apiece.
Rhode Island will take a break next weekend before hosting Birmingham Legion FC in a USL Jägermeister Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 7 PM ET.
May be the the most boring team I’ve ever seen. The team is painful to watch given the poor tactics being deployed. Not sure I’ll be a season ticket holder much longer. A few matches a year seems about right.
Just don't seem to ever commit numbers going into the offensive third . Depending on penalties, heroic shots from 40 yards, 2 v5 crosses, and that gets this brand of soccer.