Khano Smith’s Rhode Island FC’s unbeaten start at Beirne Stadium came to an end on Friday when the club fell 3 - 1 to defending USL Championship title winners Phoenix Rising FC. Despite a last-minute Clay Holstad goal that gave the club a brief lifeline, it was not enough as RIFC fell at home for the first time this year.
After an energetic start for both sides, it was Phoenix who got on the board first in the seventh minute. Taking a smart touch to strip the ball from Frank Nodarse in the midfield, Emil Cuello took advantage of the open space down the wing and sent a low cross into the middle. Evading his marker at the top of the six-yard box, Rémi Cabral’s composed touch redirected the cross past Jackson Lee and into the far side netting for his fourth goal of the season to give the visitors the early advantage.
The Ocean State club continued to keep its foot on the gas in the attack following the early blow, taking 11 touches inside Phoenix’s box and sending in 11 crosses in the first 30 minutes. Despite the attacking momentum, Rhode Island FC struggled to take advantage and get on the scoreboard.
RIFC was punished for its missed opportunities soon after as Cabral struck again for Phoenix in the 34th minute. This time collecting Panos Armenkas’ entry pass at the top of the box, the visitors’ leading goalscorer sent a low, composed effort just beyond an outstretched Jackson Lee and into the bottom right corner, completing his brace to give Phoenix a 2-0 lead.
Rhode Island FC got an opportunity to cut the lead in half late in the first half when Phoenix was penalized for a handball inside the box in the 42nd minute. Stepping up to take the penalty kick was Albert Dikwa for what would have been the captain’s fourth goal of the year. Instead, the 2023 USL Championship Golden Boot winner was denied by the strong, outstretched palm of Phoenix goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. Ríos Novo got down quickly to his right to make the save, which would be all the visitors would need to preserve a two-goal advantage into halftime.
Despite spending the majority of the second half in the attacking zone, RIFC struggled to convert its chances. The homeside won six corners, sent in 20 crosses and outshot Phoenix 11-4, but was unable to manage a single shot on target until the 89th minute.
With less than two minutes to play in regulation, RIFC’s scoreless stretch finally came to a close when Holstad took advantage of a rare indirect free kick inside the box. Connecting with Noah Fuson’s short pass off of the set piece, the midfielder curled the ball home into the top right corner to give the Ocean State club a lifeline, becoming the first player in club history to score at Beirne Stadium. The goal was Holstad’s second of the year, and first of his USL Championship career.
The celebrations were short-lived, however, as Phoenix responded almost instantly. Sprinting down the other end from the kickoff, Federico Valera got on the end of Gabi Torres’ cross, deflecting a close-range effort against Lee’s near post and just beyond the goal line to re-establish the two-goal lead in the 90th minute. The strike would ultimately be enough to give the visitors all three points and a 3-1 win while RIFC walked out of Beirne Stadium empty-handed for the first time ever.
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