April 24, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
Following the first victory in club history, a 2-1 win at Las Vegas Lights FC, Rhode Island FC returns home to Beirne Stadium on Friday for a second-straight interconference clash, this time against 2023 USL Championship title winners Phoenix Rising FC at 7:30 p.m. After a pair of scoreless draws at Bierne Stadium in its last homestand, Head Coach Khano Smith and his squad will look to continue its recent goalscoring momentum in search of the first home win in RIFC history on Friday. Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
AT A GLANCE
Date | Friday, April 26
Kickoff | 7:30 PM ET
Beirne Stadium, Smithfield, RI
Broadcast | NESN+, ESPN+
Social | @rhodeislandfc (X, Instagram, Facebook)
Match Hashtag | #RIvPHX
PHOENIX RISING FC
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Rocco Rios Novo, 22-Patrick Rakovsky
DEFENDERS (9): 3-John Stenburg, 4-Pape Mar Boye, 5-Mohamed Traore, 23-Ryan Flood, 27-Lawrence Wyke, 30-Alejandro Fuenmayor, 64-Isaiah Kaakoush, 72-Edgardo Rito, 77-Juan Carlos Azocar
MIDFIELDERS (8): 6-Giulio Doratiotto, 8-Jose Hernandez, 10-Federico Varela, 14-Emil Cuello, 16-Gabi Torres, 17-JP Scearce, 21-Panayioti “Panos” Armenakas, 26-Renzo Zambrano
FORWARDS (3): 7-Erickson Gallardo, 29-Dariusz Formella, 91-Remi Cabral
Back to Winning Ways
Two 2023 trophy-winners clashed at Phoenix Rising Stadium last weekend when the defending league champions took on 2023 Players’ Shield winners Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. The battle between the two conference heavyweights ended in a 3-1 win for the visitors, handing Phoenix its third loss of the season and marking the second time in three matches the club has given up three goals. In the attack, Pittsburgh got things started with the opening goal in the 25th minute, but Phoenix fired back less than two minutes later to send the teams into the locker room tied at 1-1. Despite tallying nearly double Pittsburgh’s shooting total, entering the final third 64 times and owning the possession battle at 61.6 percent, Phoenix’s first-half strike was all the homeside had to show for it. Two second-half goals would be all the visitors needed to secure all three points. Phoenix is winless on the road this year (0W-2L-1D), and will look to change that narrative on Friday at Beirne Stadium in order to avoid consecutive defeats for the first time this season.
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