March 26, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Rhode Island FC forward Albert Dikwa “Chico” has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week after becoming the first player in club history to score a goal and a brace. The honor is Chico’s fourth in the last two seasons and first of 2024.
The Cameroonian striker solidified himself in RIFC history in the first half of Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Monterey Bay F.C. The moment came in the 40th minute of play, when Noah Fuson’s pass cut through the heart of the Monterey Bay defense and found Chico in the box. In a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Anthony Siaha, the reigning league MVP calmly powered the ball between Siaha’s legs and into the back of the net to give RIFC its first-ever match lead.
Chico’s night did not end there. Just three minutes past the hour mark, and with the game deadlocked at 1-1, the veteran forward became the first RIFC player to net a brace when he took advantage of a missed defensive clearance at the edge of the six-yard box. After Monterey Bay defender Morey Doner struggled to clear a cross at the goalmouth, Chico pounced on the loose ball and poked it home from close range to give RIFC its second lead of the night.
The goals were the 45th and 46th of Chico’s regular season USL Championship career in his eighth season in the league. Chico signed with Rhode Island FC in January on the heels of a career-best year with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in 2023, where he was named the league’s Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner with 20 goals in 28 regular-season matches. Chico tallied five two-goal performances and one hat-trick during his league-leading campaign and averaged a goal every 114.7 minutes. The striker became the 13th player to reach the 20-goal mark in a single USL Championship season. He was named to the Team of the Week three times in 2023, including an additional three bench selections en route to Pittsburgh’s first-ever Players’ Shield trophy.
Rhode Island FC returns to USL Championship action on Saturday, March 30 (7:30 p.m. ET) when the club travels south to Florida to take on Tampa Bay Rowdies. Fans can enjoy the match from the Official Rhode Island FC Watch Party at the German-American Cultural Society of Rhode Island or tune in live on ESPN+. The Ocean State’s only professional soccer team is back at Beirne Stadium on Saturday, April 6 to host defending Eastern Conference Champions Charleston Battery. Tickets…
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