September 28, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
Rhode Island FC’s Clay Holstad and San Antonio FC’s Jorge Hernandez in action
(Rhode Island FC)
SAN ANTONIO – Another second-half surge powered Rhode Island FC to three huge road points on Saturday as the visitors defeated San Antonio FC 3-1 at Toyota Field. A goal and an assist from Albert Dikwa “Chico” and a pair of assists from Noah Fuson highlighted a busy night for the RIFC attack as the Ocean State club snapped its five-match winless skid on the road in impressive fashion.
Rhode Island FC (10W-7L-13D) wasted no time getting on the board, netting the fastest goal in club history when Chico connected on a flicked header from Fuson in the box just 18 seconds into the match. After Fuson received a long pass down the left wing from Grant Stoneman, the forward nodded the ball past a pair of defenders and into the box to set up Chico, who pelted the ball out of the air with his right foot to slot home his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
Despite the early deficit, San Antonio FC (8W-14L-7D) fought back and eventually equalized in the 20th minute when Juan Agudelo powered home a header at the back post. After Nelson Flores received the ball with space to roam in the left flank, he sent a perfect cross to the head of Agudelo, who converted the close-range opportunity to level the score at one.
Coming out of the halftime break, Rhode Island FC turned up the pressure and eventually pulled ahead once again just six minutes in. Cutting through the San Antonio backline with quick one-touch passing at the top of the box, Zachary Herivaux flicked a ball to Chico in the box. Receiving the ball under pressure, Chico sent a perfectly weighted, crafty backheel pass to Clay Holstad, who laced a first-time effort past a diving Pablo Sisniega from the top of the 18-yard-box to give RIFC its second lead of the night.
Holstad nearly completed a brace in the 57th minute, taking another first-time shot from the corner of the box after a loose ball from Marc Ybarra fell to his feet. This time, Sisniega was equal to the effort, palming Holstad’s curling effort out for a corner with a full-stretch save to keep the visitors to a one-goal advantage. In the 76th minute, Chico threatened the goal for what would’ve been his second goal of the night after JJ Williams dropped the ball off his chest to Chico’s feet, but the Cameroonian striker’s effort was once again denied by Sisniega.
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