Rhode Island FC Gets Revenge Against Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Vengeance is a dish best served in a boot
After last week’s one-nil home loss against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rhode Island FC were quite evidently feeling some type of way, and they brought that energy to Pittsburgh for a 1-0 win over the Hounds.
The match was, in a lot of ways, just the opposite of what fans have come to usually expect from Rhode Island. RIFC didn’t fire the most shots or control possession.
Instead, they played a great defensive match that held Pittsburgh to just four shots-on-goal despite taking fifteen total shots. In comparison, RIFC got three of six on frame.
This was also a game dominated by the influence of refereeing. 42 fouls were called, with six cards being shown for the effort. For that reason, it was something of a nervy game, as more than one quarter of the players on the pitch fought to avoid drawing undue attention to themselves, especially as many of those cards were given in the first half of the match.
Unfortunately, while fouls often need and deserve to be called, it’s difficult for referees to use the right touch with them, and it can lead to a match that struggles to settle into a rhythm, as this one at times did.
The biggest story from the match has to be RIFC midfielder Jojea Kwizera’s goal, which he laced into the bottom right corner of the net after a backheel by Albert Dikwa in just the nineteenth minute. After that, it didn’t feel like either side got a convincing look at goal.
Part of that was due to the efforts of Rhode Island goalkeeper Jackson Lee, making just his second start of this season. He made a few key saves, but he also didn’t have to work too hard as the Rhode Island backline forced Pittsburgh to take several shots from difficult angles. It was the best defensive performance from the Tide in some time, and speaks very highly to the improved defensive skill Rhode Island has shown this season.
With the victory, Rhode Island FC have retaken the lead in the USL Jagermeister Cup’s Group D over the Hartford Athletic on goal differential, as they sit even with six points from two matches each.
Rhode Island FC are back in action at home in Pawtucket next Saturday, June 7, at 7:00 PM ET, as they take on Miami FC. RIFC haven’t played Miami since their home fixture against them closed out the regular season last year.
They won that match 8-1, although Miami are certainly much improved this year. Still, fans will hope for a repeat of that showing in their shiny new environs at Tidewater Landing.