Rhode Island FC Defeats Rowdies on the Rhode
Rhode Island FC blasts three thirty-yard shots past Tampa Bay Rowdies to cruise home to their second-straight shutout
Rhode Island FC dominated the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a 3-0 victory on Satuday.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies looked for a chance around Rhode Island FC’s strong, counter-attacking game. Tampa was not able to find one, and it looked like no one would until five minutes into first-half stoppage time.
RIFC midfielder Clay Holstad received a pass from defender Grant Stoneman perhaps 25-30 yards away from goal and buried it in the top-right corner. Holstad’s continued ability to do so is one of Rhode Island FC’s most overlooked assets.
The second half shows that statistics are only half the battle. Maybe even less, on some occasions. Rhode Island FC does a good job of controlling games, even if it does nothing with the chances that generates. Their control was particularly strong tonight, and they took good advantage of it.
Goalkeeper Koke Vegas continues to provide the steadiest of hands between the sticks. Defender Aimé Mabika also continues to absolutely prove he was worth bringing in.
But the midfielders, though, were really the story of the match. Zachary Herivaux, who is himself a former Tampa Bay Rowdie, and Noah Fuson were both eager to get in on the fun, and they did so with Holstad-esque thirty-yard bombs in the 73rd and the 87th minute, respectively, that both saw Rowdies goalkeeper Dante Nicolás Campisi diving for shots that he could not possibly save. Tampa Bay also grew heated as the lead grew to 3-0 for RIFC, and they received multiple yellow cards, and a red for defender Laurence Wyke that saw Tampa play the final ten minutes or so playing with 10 men.
Rhode Island FC were certainly in good form but their forwards’ continued inability to provide goalscoring remains a major concern.
Rhode Island FC will return to play at home in Pawtucket, RI, after a two-match weeklong road stretch, as they take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, May 24, at 4:00 PM ET.