Rhode Island FC kicked off their 2026 campaign, welcoming USL Championship newcomers Sporting JAX to Centreville Bank Stadium. With both of the club’s previous home openers ending in draws – 1-1 to New Mexico in 2024 and scoreless with San Antonio in 2025 – Rhode Island are still searching for that opening win with another 1-1 draw opening the 2026 campaign.
With seventeen players returning from the previous season, head coach and general manager Khano Smith fielded a starting eleven that saw three of the club’s new signings make their RIFC debuts: Leo Afonso, Agustín Rodríguez, and Nick Scardina.
Rhode Island applied the pressure early, showing an intensity in the attacking third that they lacked most of last year. In the 22nd minute, Afonso found himself with the ball on the edge of Jacksonville’s box and was able to get a touch around the defender, getting off a shot from distance that ended up in the hands of the keeper.
A little over a minute later, Koke Vegas was forced into action during the Jacksonville counter after the initial shot attempt was blocked. JAX’s defender was able to make a run in and get off a searing volley that Vegas was able to bat away.
The hosts had another chance to score in the 53rd minute after an impressive ball into the box from newly appointed throw-in taker Williams was headed away by the JAX defender, only to be met on the volley by a waiting Afonso who ended up just wide of the goal.
Rhode Island made their first change of the match in the 64th minute with Noah Fuson replacing Rodríguez. In the 69th minute, Logan Dorsey made his RIFC debut checking in for Scardina. The hosts made their final substitution of the match in the 75th minute with Hugo Bacharach entering for an injured Zachary Herivaux.
It was Rhode Island FC who struck first in the 79th minute. The first attempt to play the ball through to a running Dorsey was intercepted by the JAX keeper, but his attempt to clear the ball ended up ricocheting off his defender back to Dorsey who was able to capitalize on the opportunity. Sporting JAX found the equalizer in the 84th minute, Rafferty Pedder beating Vegas on the rebound after the keeper’s initial save.
In the 88th minute, RIFC saw themselves go up a man after Jordan Rossiter was shown his second yellow following a challenge on Afonso, but it was too little too late as the hosts were unable to notch another goal and saw their third consecutive home opener end in a draw.
Next up on the calendar for Rhode Island is U.S. Open Cup action on Tuesday, March 17 when the team hosts C.D. Faialense in the first round, with kickoff slated for 7:00 PM EST.
