Rhode Island FC Suffers Worst Loss in Three Months
Rhode Island FC Suffers Worst Loss in Three Months
The Riverhounds ran wild over RIFC
Rhode Island FC fell flat in the most important phase of the game in the 2-0 loss against Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday.
The loss marks only the club’s second since June 8 and is the first multi-goal loss in that span of time. That fact is not what’s so dismaying, but it is the way RIFC lost that will provoke distress in fans of the Tide. Despite 67% possession and winning four corners, Rhode Island FC managed only two shots, both in the final three minutes of the match. Neither were on target.
The result is indicative of what may prove a significant problem for 5th place Rhode Island in the run up to the playoffs. RIFC is presently only four points from being out of the playoff places, with seven matches remaining to play.
That significant problem is that Rhode Island FC lacks a clear goalscorer. Striker Albert “Chico” Dikwa leads the team with seven goals in 24 appearances. No other play has more than five.
The haul for Dikwa especially is disappointing as the striker scored 20 goals last season in 29 appearances on the way to a golden boot. So far, Rhode Island has managed to score thanks to contributions from a number of players – but tonight’s loss to Pittsburgh shows what happens when there is no clear goalscorer and the other occasional scorers aren’t able to find their shooting boots.
The first half was a bit of a snoozer for most of the allotted time as RIFC’s one clear chance was called offsides — and the shot was rebounded off the post by Dikwa anyway. Pittsburgh broke through in first-half stoppage time, scoring after Dikwa gave away a bad ball near midfield off a botched clearance. Pittsburgh midfielder Danny Griffin then played a great ball to striker Bertin Jacquesson on the right side of goal, who went bar-down to beat RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas and give Pittsburgh the 1-0 lead as stoppage time expired.
The goal was the only shot-on-target for either team in the first half.
Rhode Island FC came out of the locker room at half-time and promptly watched as Pittsburgh doubled its lead. The home team poured the pressure on immediately and the second strike came in only the 50th minute as Pittsburgh Riverhounds defender Dani Rovira found midfielder Bradley Sample with a cross in from the left-hand side, which Sample headed upwards to rainbow in over the outstretched hands of a leaping Vegas for a highlight-reel worthy goal.
Seeing it, I actually yelled “what” loud enough for my neighbor to complain. Sorry, Carlotta.
The rest of the half wasn’t nearly as exciting as both teams struggled to get anything going. To be fair to Pittsburgh, it didn’t really need to as the Riverhounds were already up 2-0. They’d take that score into the locker room for their eighth win on the season, while the Tide suffered just their sixth loss.
Rhode Island FC are back in action with a late match next Saturday, September 14th at 10:00 pm ET away against Orange County SC. RIFC then return home to Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, Rhode Island on Saturday, September 21, at 7:30 pm ET to play FC Tulsa.
With seven matches remaining, RIFC still has thirteen draws on the season, one away from tying the league record for draws and two away from setting it. Will the Draw Kings taste that eternal glory? We’ll have to wait and see.