PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island FC left Patriots Point Soccer Stadium without points on Sept. 26, losing 2-0 to the Charleston Battery after a scoreless opening 75 minutes gave way to a late disciplinary turn and two second-half goals for the hosts.
Late setbacks undo tight contest
The Ocean State side managed to keep the game level through most of the match, but momentum swung against them in the closing stages when a red card reduced Rhode Island to 10 men and Charleston converted twice to seal the victory. The loss drops Rhode Island to 9-10-5 on the season, while Charleston improved to 14-8-4, continuing to demonstrate the attacking firepower that has defined much of their campaign.
Goalkeeper Koke Vegas kept Rhode Island competitive in the first half, making a pair of important saves to deny early Charleston chances. On the other end, Charleston stopper Luis Zamudio matched that resistance, parrying a long-range effort from Stas Korzeniowski in the 16th minute and then turning away a close-range attempt from Amos Shapiro-Thompson early in the second half.
First half: few clear-cut opportunities
Although Charleston controlled much of the ball in the opening 45, neither side managed to build a sustained assault on goal. The two teams combined for just four shots in the first half, with Richmond’s best opening arriving in the 24th minute when Langston Blackstock found space inside the six-yard area and fired toward the near post; Vegas stretched to make the save. Moments later, Jeremy Kelly tested Vegas again with a long-range effort that was also turned away.
Charleston briefly celebrated a headed finish from Camilo Sanchez off a free kick by Jeremy Swan, but the flag for offside wiped out the goal and left the teams level at intermission.
Second half: miscues and resilience
The second half began with a promising sequence for Rhode Island. A miscued clearance on the restart allowed Amos Shapiro-Thompson to pounce at the top of the box and send a powerful shot toward the upper-left corner, only for Zamudio to produce a full-stretch save and keep the scoreline unchanged.
Minutes later the match turned decisively in Charleston’s favor. A late-game red card left Rhode Island short-handed and opened space for the Battery to find two goals and close out the match. Those strikes came after the 75th minute and proved decisive as Rhode Island was unable to recover with limited personnel on the pitch.
- Final score: Charleston Battery 2, Rhode Island FC 0
- Location: Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
- Next: Rhode Island FC returns home to play Indy Eleven on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Rhode Island now faces a quick turnaround, flying back to host Indy Eleven in Providence just four days after the loss. The club will need to regroup defensively and address discipline ahead of the midweek test if it hopes to halt a stretch of inconsistent results.
| Team | Record (W-L-T) |
|---|---|
| Charleston Battery | 14-8-4 |
| Rhode Island FC | 9-10-5 |
Fans planning to attend the Sept. 30 match should check Rhode Island FC’s official channels for ticketing and stadium protocols. With limited recovery time after the road trip, the coaching staff is expected to manage minutes and recovery work closely to prepare the squad.
From a standings perspective, the defeat keeps Rhode Island in a crowded middle of the table, making each remaining regular-season match important as the club pursues playoff positioning. How the team responds in front of its home supporters on Wednesday will give a clearer picture of its late-season trajectory.
This report will be updated with postgame comments and injury statuses when available from Rhode Island FC.
— Priya Nair, WE NEWS
