Portland Hearts of Pine defeated Rhode Island FC 2-1 to collect three points in the Pinx Tires USL Cup.
Here are three thoughts from the game.
A Quintessential Hearts Goal
Hearts scored in the third minute in a very Hearts way.
Diogo Barbosa won the ball and immediately looked to go forward. The play that followed isn't the cleanest, but look at how Matteo Kidd instinctively gets in the box to finish Ollie Wright's service.
The tally put RIFC in a tough spot, as it's the earliest they've ever conceded. The USL Championship team's last official come-from-behind victory came on September 21, 2024.
The Return of Titus
Titus Washington, the team's 2025 Co-Rookie of the Year, has been in and out of the lineup.
We saw glimpses of what he can offer last weekend when he scored his first of the season against Union Omaha. We saw even more against Rhode Island.
Washington's movement is what makes him dangerous, as he's always looking for opportunities to rush the goal. You see that here.
And here.
But Washington is also willing to help with the build. Here, you see that he plays a critical role before the penalty kick.
The start of the season hasn't gone the way Hearts have wanted, but the disjointed preseason and large number of injuries are factors. Washington getting regular minutes will help, as will the return of Walter Varela.
Morse Stands Out
Hearts got strong performances from several players, including goalkeeper Hunter Morse. He made six saves, including several during critical moments.
The visitors nearly cut the deficit in half just before the break, but Morse stood strong.
Morse made another big save during an early bout of second-half pressure.
Hearts conceded in the 61st minute on a set piece, which RIFC looked good on throughout the night. That said, the Logan Dorsey strike can't really be put on Morse, especially when he made a pair of late saves.
