SMITHFIELD, RI— Rhode Island FC (1-4-1, 7 pts.) were victorious 2-1 in a USL Championship clash versus Western Conference side Las Vegas Lights (3-0-4 9 pts.).
The match kicked off at 8:00 p.m. ET at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada Carolina to a crowd of 3,001.
📋 Our starting XI vs Las Vegas Lights FC!#LVvRI | #RIFC⚓ pic.twitter.com/Qu9IhcP4fl
— Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) April 20, 2024
The team started their lineup in a 3-5-2 formation with goalkeeper Jackson Lee starting in the net with a backline of Gabriel Alves (left), Karifa Yao (center) and Frank Nodarse (right). The midfield consisted of Stephen Turnbull (left) Jojea Kwizera (left center mid), Marc Ybarra (central), Joe Brito (right center mid) and Clay Holstad (right). The forward roles were manned by Noah Fuson (left) and Albert Dikwa (right).
Rhode Island had 4 players out due to injury. They included Grant Stoneman, JJ Williams, Conor McGlynn, and Amos Shapiro-Thompson.
Goalkeeper Koke Vegas returned to the bench. He has been out injured.
IT'S MATCHDAY ⚔️
🅰️ Las Vegas Lights FC
🏟️ Cashman Field
🕗 8:00pm ET
📺 ESPN+
#️⃣ #LVvRIPreview the match ➡️: https://t.co/J2TIKTJDaP pic.twitter.com/g5fJeYNfCb
— Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) April 20, 2024
The match kicked off with Las Vegas starting in the center circle. They elected to play the ball backwards to their back line and they elected to launch the ball up into RIFC’s defensive third.
Entering the 8th minute, RIFC thought they had gotten the early 1-0 advantage after a goal by Noah Fuson, however, Fuson was offside.
Las Vegas’s first chance came in the 9th minute when a delivery into the box wen beckoning out for a goal kick.
Rhode Island had yet another clear chance in the 11th minute when Jojea Kwizera’s delivery into the box went just over the net.
Vegas had yet another clear chance in the 11th minute when #14’s shot was met with a save by Jackson Lee.
Rhode Island had another back-post chance as Jojea Kwizera couldn’t bring down the back post ball, which went out for a goal kick.
Just 2 minutes later, Kwizera sent a ball into the box and cleared out for a long-distance volley attempt by Gabriel Alves which was blocked away. RIFC retained possession and the ball went out once more for a goal kick.
Entering the 25th minute, Rhode Island got their 1-0 lead.
Pinpoint strike! 📌
A great finish from @sturnbull17 puts @RhodeIslandFC ahead in Vegas ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/a0AfGSSROa
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
After a delivery into the box by Noah Fuson, the ball toward Albert Dikwa popped out to find Stephen Turnbull for the right-footed shot into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper #56 Raiko Arozarena for the lead.
In the 26th minute, Las Vegas forward #9 Riki Alba was issued a yellow card for fouling #24 Karifa Yao. He then confronted the referee and Jojea Kwizera and was dealt the card for shoving Kwizera.
Just 3 minutes later, Rhode Island FC goalkeeper Jackson Lee was issued a yellow card for time wasting and delaying a restart.
Moments later, Las Vegas had a key chance when defender #20 Shawn Smarts’ effort went just wide of the left post.
Las Vegas then had a clear chance in the 32nd minute. Forward #9 Riki Alba was called for the foul and warned by the center official that he will be sent off if he fouls once more.
Rhode Island had yet another chance in the 36th minute when a free kick delivery into the area found Albert Dikwa, but his effort was launched over the bar.
Just before halftime, Rhode Island added to their lead.
The @RhodeIslandFC lead is now doubled through @NoahFuson ✌️ pic.twitter.com/cgiME3Drws
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
Midfielder Stephen Turnbull drove into the area and squared it centrally. Albert Dikwa then shot the ball, and it was blocked. The ball then found Noah Fuson for the simple finish to make it 2-0.
In the 45+1 minute, Las Vegas defender #33 Gennaro Nigro was issued a yellow card for fouling Stephen Turnbull.
After the 45+5 minutes, the match entered halftime with the scoreline set at 2-0.
HALFTIME | Two up at the break! ✌️#LVvRI | 0-2 | #RIFC⚓ pic.twitter.com/7mzzcYmAqh
— Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) April 21, 2024
Before the start of the second half, Las Vegas head coach Dennis Johnson made his first two changes of the match by substituting defender #4 Fabian Garcia and midfielder #8 Coleman Gannon and replaced them with defender #22 Joe Hafferty and midfielder #6 Charlie Adams.
The second half began with RIFC starting from the center circle. They elected to launch the ball in Vegas’ defensive third to begin the second half.
Las Vegas had the first chance of the second half when their corner kick delivery by midfielder #6 was met with a clearance header by RIFC.
Vegas had yet another chance in the 52nd minute after yet another corner kick opportunity was cleared by RIFC.
Entering the 54th minute, Las Vegas pulled one back.
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 🎮@Vlnt_Noel gets @lvlightsfc back in it! pic.twitter.com/r3NAzuoSiu
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) April 21, 2024
Following a back-post-delivery by midfielder #72 Gaoussou Samaké, the ball fell to the back post to find midfielder #27 Valentin Noël for the finish to make it 2-1.
Las Vegas had yet another clear chance 4 minutes later, though the effort was blocked and cleared away by Karifa Yao.
In the 61st minute, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his first change of the match by substituting Joe Brito for Kofi Twumasi.
Entering the 66th minute, Las Vegas head coach Dennis Johnson made his third and fourth changes of the match by substituting defender #24 Maliek Howell and defender #33 Gennaro Nigro and replacing them with defender #3 Hayden Sargis and midfielder #7 Joe Gyau.
Entering the 69th minute, Las Vegas head coach Dennis Johnson was issued a yellow card.
Just 2 minutes later, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his second and third change of the match by substituting Stephen Turnbull and Noah Fuson and replaced them with Mark Doyle and Collin Smith.
Tonight’s Health Report brought to you by @Ortho_RI. pic.twitter.com/jTTTT3WVab
— Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) April 20, 2024
In the 74th minute, Las Vegas defender #24 Joe Hafferty was issued a yellow card.
Entering the 76th minute, Las Vegas head coach Dennis Johnson made his fifth and final change of the match by substituting midfielder #14 Solomon Asante and replacing him with forward #90 Khori Bennett.
Rhode Island had a good chance in the 78th minute when Mark Doyle’s delivery into the box was cleared out for a corner kick.
In the 81st minute, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his fourth change of the match by substituting Jojea Kwizera and replacing him with Nathan Messer.
Las Vegas had an unbelievable chance in the 82nd minute when Jackson Lee was called upon to make a crucial save. The ball then exited play for a corner kick, and the delivery into the area struck the post and was cleared.
Jackson Lee came up clutch in the 87th minute making a crucial save to keep the scoreline 2-1.
Just two minutes later, forward #9 Riki Alba had a wide-open chance that went over the bar.
In the 90+1 minute, RIFC forward Mark Doyle was issued a yellow card for fouling midfielder #27 Valentin Noël.
After the 90+7 minutes, the match ended with Rhode Island FC holding on for the 2-1 victory.
FULL TIME | Our first win in club history comes on the road in Las Vegas!#LVvRI | 1-2 | #RIFC⚓ pic.twitter.com/h3oId5emrZ
— Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) April 21, 2024
This is the first ever win in Rhode Island FC’s history. They improve to 1-4-1 in the USL Championship.
Rhode Island FC (1-4-1, 7 pts. in USL Championship) return home to Smithfield, Rhode Island to face Western Conference side Phoenix Rising FC (2-1-3, 7 pts. in USL Championship) at Bulldog Stadium. The match kicks off Friday, April 26th at 7:30p.m. on ESPN+.
