Rhode Island FC Gets Revenge Against Tampa Bay

Saturday’s match had absolutely everything a Rhode Island FC fan could want.

Saturday’s match had absolutely everything a Rhode Island FC fan could want.

Over the course of a dominant home victory, RIFC scored three goals. The first humiliated the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the second showcased immense skill, and the third not only humiliated Tampa Bay once again, but displayed great team play. They did all that while avenging a 4-1 away drubbing in what had been the fourth match of their inaugural season.

Rhode Island’s first goal was the stuff of nightmares for Tampa Bay goalkeeper Jordan Farr. He received a slow back pass from his defender and was himself slow to reach it and boot it out of his six-yard box. The result was that RIFC midfielder Zachary Herivaux was directly in front of Farr when he attempted to launch it and Herivaux simply stuck a foot out that redirected Farr’s pass back into the goalkeepers own net. Herivaux and RIFC striker Albert “Chico” Dikwa deserve great credit for the heavy pressing they laid against Tampa Bay’s defenders to cause it.

Rhode Island FC took that 1-0 lead into the half despite Tampa Bay outprocessing the home side 58 percent to 42 percent through the first 45 minutes, but the Rowdies were mostly unable to capitalize on that possession. They didn’t take their first shot on goal until the 43rd minute and RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas was able to easily collect it to keep Rhode Island in the lead.

The second half had much more action than the first. Rhode Island FC struck first once again doubling the lead in the 69th minute as winger Noah Fuson cut in from the left-hand side and fired a shot from the absolute kitty-corner of the eighteen-yard box –that may well have been a cross — which caught the Rowdie’s Farr well off guard and beat him to the far post. With the assist coming from striker JJ Williams, it was Fuson’s sixth goal of the season.

The Tide didn’t have long to celebrate, as it was only the 71st minute when Tampa Bay clawed back into the game. Midfielder Damian Rivera, on loan to Tampa from the New England Revolution, fired a brilliant pass to striker Manuel Arteaga who cut back and beat RIFC defender Karifa Yao and scored with a shot that snuck past Vegas to make the score 2-1. The goal marked the second scored against Rhode Island FC in as many matches involving a current or former New England Revolution player. Tampa Bay very nearly drew even just a short minute later, as Arteaga was only barely denied between the combined efforts of Vegas and a great clearance by RIFC defender Grant Stoneman.

Rhode Island finally put the game away in the 85th minute, as Fuson played Williams in on goal with a good through-pass, and Williams slotted the ball home over the hind leg of Farr to give RIFC the 3-1 lead. Between the goal and assist – his sixth and seventh on the season — Fuson has five goal involvements in Rhode Island’s last three matches.

So where does Rhode Island FC stand after the impressive win? With three matches left to play – including two home matches – they remain two draws away from the USL Championship record. They also sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with 46 points through 31 games. Given their recent run of form, it’s not hard to imagine the Draw Kings narrowly avoiding what had seemed for so long to be their destiny.

Rhode Island FC play at home in Smithfield, Rhode Island again next weekend, as they take on Loudoun United FC at 4:00 pm ET on Sunday, October 13. Rhode Island FC drew Loudoun United in the away fixture on August 24.