April 17, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
Rhode Island FC’s Collin Smith battles Charlotte Independence’s Fabrice Ngah
(Rhode Island FC)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A dramatic back-and-forth affair would ultimately end in defeat for Rhode Island FC on Tuesday when the club lost its first-ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match to USL League One side Charlotte Independence at America Memorial Legion Stadium. Despite four debut goals and two leads from Head Coach Khano Smith’s side through 120 minutes, the club was unable to go the distance as it fell 5-4 in a penalty shootout.
After an active opening 10 minutes of the match, Rhode Island FC was the first to strike when a scramble at the top of the box saw the ball fall to the feet of Collin Smith on the right wing. Recycling the ball into the danger zone with a low cross, his ball found the feet of Conor McGlynn in the middle. Taking the cross onto his right foot with a first-touch finish through traffic, the midfielder powered the ball home at the near post to give RIFC an early 1-0 advantage.
The lead for the visitors would not last long, however, as Charlotte responded 15 minutes later as Gabriel Alves took down Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. in the box to concede a penalty. Stepping up to take the kick from the spot, Obregón Jr. slammed the ball down the middle and sent a diving Jackson Lee the wrong way to level the match at 1-1.
The hosts would continue to take advantage of the newfound momentum in the 35th minute when midfielder Luis Álvarez found the feet of Tresor Mbuyu behind the RIFC back line with a long ball over the top. Streaking towards the box with the ball ahead of him, Mbuyu beat an onrushing Lee outside the box, calmly touching the ball around the keeper before tapping it into the open net to give Charlotte a 2-1 advantage.
Moments before the halftime whistle, RIFC would level the contest. After receiving Prince Saydee’s pass at the top of the box, Mark Doyle recorded his first club assist when he played a short pass down the left side of the box towards Nathan Messer. Closing in on a tight angle towards the goal, the midfielder sent the ball to the roof of the net with a strong, left-footed strike from close range to tie the match 2-2 before heading into the break.
RIFC thought it scored the go-ahead goal just three minutes after halftime when Messer’s corner was headed into the back of the net, but the referee waved off what would have been a first professional…