Rhode Island FC Falls to Orange County Out West
Maybe being the Draw Kings wasn't so bad after all
Rhode Island FC’s tough loss to Orange County SC marked an ignominious first for the new club.
The 1-0 away defeat marked their second in a row, following the 2-0 away loss to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. It also saw Rhode Island FC drop down to eighth place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, in danger of falling out of playoff contention with only six games remaining to play.
Rhode Island FC’s scoring woes also continued as they were held scoreless for the second straight match and for the third time in the last four matches. This is despite their continued ability to get into scoring position.
RIFC took 18 shots on the night, with six on goal, and once again converted none of them. Striker Albert “Chico” Dikwa, who has struggled to convert his chances all season was responsible for more than one of these once again. Dikwa has converted only seven goals on 39 shots this season, scoring less than 18% of the time. No one else has stepped up either as defender Frank Nodarse is RIFC’s next-most prolific scorer. He’s scored five goals this season. That’s a more-than-solid haul for a defender, but it speaks volumes about the anemia of Rhode Island’s attack.
RIFC forwards Noah Fuson, Mark Doyle, JJ Williams, Jojea Kwizera, Nathan Messer and Dikwa combined for 17 total goals between them through 28 total matches. This inability to score cannot continue if Rhode Island FC is to make the playoffs or to make any noise within them.
Regarding the match, Orange County SC took the 1-0 lead in the 31st minute, and they did so after one of the worst defensive plays from the Tide all season. Neither RIFC left wingback Gabriel Alves nor left centerback Frank Nodarse was anywhere near the left side of the field when Orange County midfielder Cameron Dunbar fired a long through-pass from near center field to the wide-open fellow midfielder Bryce Jamison, who went one-on-one against RIFC goalkeeper Jackson Lee and blasted a shot past him to give the home side the only goal of the match and ultimately all three points. There was nothing Lee could do, as his defenders fully hung him out to dry and left him completely alone to try and stymie Orange County’s breakaway attack.
Rhode Island FC, meanwhile, wasted chance after chance. They fired shots wide, they fired shots directly at Orange County SC goalkeeper Colin Shutler, they fired shots everywhere except for into the back of the net. Head coach Khano Smith will need to do something about his side’s inability to score and fast.
Rhode Island FC remains two draws away from setting the USL Championship record, with six matches remaining in the regular season. They return home on Saturday, September 21st, to play FC Tulsa in Smithfield, Rhode Island, at 7:30 pm ET.