Rhode Island FC Celebrates First Home Win at Centreville Bank Stadium
Pawtucket, RI – After six matches without a victory, Rhode Island FC finally found the win column at Centreville Bank Stadium on Saturday night, defeating North Carolina FC 2-1 in a thrilling encounter. The decisive moment came in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time when Maxi Rodriguez successfully converted a penalty kick, sealing the team’s first USL Championship victory at their new home.
Rhode Island began the match on the front foot, with Albert Dikwa scoring a header in the 18th minute. However, the lead was short-lived as North Carolina’s Rafa Mentzingen equalized in the 35th minute. Despite a dominant second half where Rhode Island launched numerous attacks, the match seemed poised for a draw. The hosts controlled the offensive play, registering 11 of the match’s 13 shots during that period.
As the match looked to be slipping into the final moments, Frank Nodarse drew a crucial penalty. Rodriguez stepped up to the spot, delivering a confident shot that found the net, despite North Carolina goalkeeper Jake McGuire’s attempt to save it.
With this victory, Rhode Island FC improves to a 4-6-3 record and kicks off a grueling stretch of six consecutive home matches over the next seven Saturdays. Upcoming fixtures include games against the expansion Portland Hearts of Pine on June 28 and Hartford Athletic on July 19 and 26. This momentum could be a turning point for the team as they look to build on their first home win.
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