Rhode Island FC Fall to Pittsburgh for First Regular Season Home Loss
Rhode Island's struggles to score at home continue.
Rhode Island FC returned home Saturday afternoon for a rainy match against conference foe Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, looking to continue thier run of good form. Following a shaky start to the season RIFC seem to have found their footing, going unbeaten in their last four league matches with two wins and two draws.
Rhode Island fielded an unchanged line-up from their match against Tampa Bay, hoping to find the same success as their last match.
The Amber and Blue started off strong putting up a flurry of attempts in the opening 20 minutes of the match, but luck did not seem to be on their side as they were unable to convert.
It was Pittsburgh who broke the deadlock in the 37th minute. The defense seemed to suffer a moment of confusion during a corner kick, allowing the strike from Danny Griffin to thread through and find the back of Rhode Island’s net.
It looked as though Rhode Island had a goal in the 48th minute as the ball fell to Frank Nodarse, whose outside of the foot volley seemed destined for the top corner before bouncing off of the crossbar.
The hosts made their first changes of the match in the 73rd minute, swapping out Albert Dikwa and Aldair Sanchez for Joseph Brito and Amos Shapiro-Thompson respectively. Rhode Island’s second set of substitutions came in the 82nd minute as Taimu Okiyoshi replaced Zachary Herivaux and Rio Hope-Gund replaced Aimé Mabika.
As the match wound down it seemed as though Rhode Island might find the equalizer in the 85th minute as Noah Fuson pushed into Pittsburgh’s defensive third, creating space for himself to cross the ball to a waiting Jojea Kwizera. Despite the effort Pittsburgh’s keeper was able to make a spectacular save, denying the Rhode Island attack once more.
Using their final substitution of the match during extra time, Karifa Yao saw the field for the first time since picking up an injury back in April as he replaced a seemingly injured Nodarse.
Rhode Island were unable to capitalize on its chances, creating a flurry of opportunities as the clock wound down and with the referee’s final whistle they were handed their first regular season loss at home.
RIFC will be back in action Saturday, May 31st to take on Pittsburgh once again, this time in USL Jägermeister Cup action.
Meanwhile, the other New England team plays its 30th year without a home soccer stadium, under greedy non-soccer ownership. Sure, the Centreville Bank stadium reality might eventually be seen as a boondoggle (hotels/housing going up in that area? Minor league soccer drawing capacity crowds?), but for now, for the fans, New England’s only pro soccer stadium is an incredible achievement.
Centreville Bank stadium is all RIFC, first class in so many respects, though not it’s cancer-bouncy turf, and Gillette is a 2/3rds empty NFL shell.
The better team won today. It’s going to be a long season at Centerville Stadium. They let in an incredibly soft goal to end the first half and the team has no one who can score currently. Maxi is very overrated. Another good home crowd equals a poor performance by the team. The wait for a goal might be longer than the wait to use a bathroom at this place.