Weekly Roundup: RIFC Grab a Point on the Road, Hartford Drop all Three
In an MLS bye week for the New England Revolution, all eyes turned to USL action
Rhode Island FC is unable to grab all three points on the road thanks to former Revolution forward Damien Rivera.
Hartford Athletic’s search for a goal continues, dropping all three points in Pittsburg.
Portland Heats of Pine fly past amateur side CD Faialense in a historic inaugural match.
NWSL Boston awaits a verdict in the White Stadium trial.
The New England Revolution regrouped during an early bye week. Caleb Porter and Matt Polster spoke to the media.
Photo by J. Alexander Dolan
Rhode Island FC
Rhode Island FC 2-2 Pheonix Rising
After a difficult opening day defeat to Charleston Battery, Rhode Island traveled to Arizona to take on Phoenix Rising. Both sides were looking for their first win. RIFC was also looking for its first goal, and traveling supporters were greeted with two.
Rhode Island’s playoff hero from last season, JJ Williams, got on the scoresheet first after Albert Dikwa chipped a brilliant ball into the box. Williams found himself all alone and nodded the ball into the bottom right corner.
Phoenix got back into the game, however, through a familiar name in the Ocean State. Former New England Revolution forward and Cranston, Rhode Island native Damien Rivera juggled a low cross in the air over two RIFC defenders, turned, and fired it home for one of the best goals of the young USL season.
Rhode Island’s second goal was a gift just before the halftime whistle. A deep free-kick sent into a crowded 18-yard box was headed off the post and into the back of the net by a Phoenix defender, putting the away side back in front.
That lead would only make it 15 minutes past the halftime break. A cross and an initial save from RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas fell to the feet of Hope Kodzo Avayevu for Phoenix, who deposited the equalizer and sent both teams home with a point.
Next up for Rhode Island is a trip to Virginia to face Loudoun United on Saturday, March 29th.
Hartford Athletic
Pittsburg Riverhounds 1-0 Hartford Athletic
Hartford Athletic dropped its second consecutive match to start the season, losing 1-0 on the road to Pittsburg Riverhounds Saturday. The Latics managed more total shots than the Riverhounds but failed to find the back of the net for the second consecutive game.
The lone goal came in the 76th minute, when a poor clearance attempt left Pittsburg midfielder Daniel Griffin alone in the box. His header was the difference in the match, and Hartford fall to 0-0-2 in USL Championship play.
The Latics will try to gather their first points of the season when they return home to Trinity Health Stadium on Saturday, March 29, taking on El Paso Locomotive in their home opener.
Portland Hearts of Pine
Portland Hearts of Pine 4-0 CD Faialense
Maine’s first-ever professional team hosted its first-ever match at a packed Lewiston High School in front of well over 3,000 fans Thursday evening, scoring a first goal and capturing a first win for the Pine Tree State.
Walter Varela will forever hold the title of first goalscorer in Portland Hearts of Pine history, finding the back of the net just 17 minutes into the match and sending the fans at Don Roux Field into a frenzy. A deflected cross found Varela’s feet at the top of the box. One touch later, he fired a low strike into the bottom left corner for what turned out to be the match-winner.
Azaad Liadi scored the second goal on an unbelievable volley on a cross from Titus Washington. Varela then completed his brace, cleaning up a rebound in the 62nd minute, and Nathan Messer rounded out the night with a beautiful free kick six minutes later
Portland will play its first USL League One Match against FC Naples on Saturday, March 29th, in Florida.
NWSL Boston
After announcing its intentions to move away from the BOS Nation name last week, Boston’s NWSL franchise awaits a decision in its court case against the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and a group of Boston residents over the use and renovation of White Stadium.
The lawsuit centers on Article 97 of the Massachusetts State Constitution, which is designed to preserve open space, protect natural resources, and prevent the privatization of parkland. Under this rule, land subject to it would require a two-thirds vote of the state legislature before it could be used for other purposes. The plaintiffs claim the stadium parcel is considered parkland and is therefore protected by the article.
The judge said he plans to make a decision on the case “within a week or two.”
New England Revolution
With no match this week, the New England Revolution had a chance to reset after gathering just one point from its first four matches. Several players, including Alhassan Yusuf, Mamadou Fofana and Ignatius Ganago, were not at practice and were away with their respective national teams.
During Thursday’s media availability Caleb Porter spoke on the team’s approach during the bye week.
“We know where we’re at. We don’t like where we’re at, and that’s the bottom line. We’re all aware of the bottom line. But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We can’t be a victim of it. We need to do something about it, and doing something about it is winning the next game. And to win the next game, you have to improve. We all can be a little bit better, myself included,” Porter said.
The next test for New England is a meeting with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, March 29th. Midfielder Matt Polster said going into the match the team needs to be better when faced with adversity.
“I think we need to push each other, set a high standard and expectations for each other, and become a little grittier. I think that’s what it takes to win an MLS game. At the moment, I don’t think we’re gritty enough at times,” Polster said.