Rhode Island & 10-man Hartford Athletic battle to 2-2 draw, Hartford win extra point 4-3 after penalties

PAWTUCKET, RI– Rhode Island FC (4-5-8, 17 pts) battled to a 2-2 draw with Hartford Athletic (3-4-8, 13 pts) then lost an extra point to Hartford after a 4-3 penalty shootout during a Jägermeister Cup match on Saturday night.

The match kicked off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Centreville Bank Stadium to a crowd of 7,242.

Rhode Island FC starting lineup: 4-2-3-1 | Jackson Lee, Amos Shapiro-Thompson, Aimé Mabika, Karifa Yao, Frank Nodarse, Hugo Bacharach, Clay Holstad, Noah Fuson, Marc Ybarra, Jojea Kwizera, JJ Williams

Rhode Island FC substitutes:| Dani Rovira, Aldair Sanchez, Albert Dikwa, Will Meyer, Rio Hope-Gund, Joe Brito, Maxi Rodriguez

Hartford Athletic starting lineup: 3-5-2 |Antony Siaha, Adrian Diz, Joseph Farrell, TJ Presthus, Emmanuel Samadia, Marlon Hairston, Beverly Makangila, Sebastian Anderson, Jonathan Jimenez, Michee Ngalina, Mamadou Dieng

Hartford Athletic substitutes:|Junior Moreira, Justin DiCarlo, Deshane Beckford, Samuel Careaga, Kyle Edwards, Adewale Obalola

RIFC head coach Khano Smith was suspended for this match due to his red card against Portland Hearts of Pine (

The match kicked off with Hartford Athletic starting from the center circle and chose to swiftly advance the ball into Rhode Island’s defensive third.

In the 11th minute, RIFC midfielder Noah Fuson was issued a yellow card for a foul on Beverly Makangila.

JJ Williams had the first chance of the match for RIFC when his effort in the 15th minute was met with a save by goalkeeper Antony Siaha.

Hartford’s first chance came in the 18th minute when an effort towards goal by Mamadou Dieng was comfortably caught by Jackson Lee.

In the 22nd minute, Hartford Athletic midfielder Beverly Makangila was issued a yellow card for a harsh foul on Amos Shapiro-Thompson.

In the 28th minute, Hartford Athletic midfielder Beverly Makangila was issued his second yellow card of the match. Hartford will play the remaining 62 minutes with 10-men.

30' – Siaha picks up where he left off and makes a great diving save ❌

0-0 I #RIvHFD pic.twitter.com/EgNpkbp8Xz

— Hartford Athletic (@hfdathletic) July 26, 2025

Less than a minute later, RIFC had a massive chance from a corner kick when a headed effort by Hugo Bacharach was met with a spectacular save by goalkeeper Antony Siaha.

In the 39th minute, RIFC interim head coach Dave McKay was forced to make his first change of the match by replacing Frank Nodarse with Rio Hope-Gund.

Hartford Athletic had their best chance of the half in the 42nd minute when a freekick taken by Emmanuel Samadia was caught comfortably by Jackson Lee.

RIFC’s next chance came entering the 45th minute when a cross into the box was headed just wide of the net by Marc Ybarra.

Entering the 45+3 minute, Hartford took the lead.

45+2' – TJ PRESTHUS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! The rookie gives us the lead!

0-1 I #RIvHFD pic.twitter.com/mgkS4M81J5

— Hartford Athletic (@hfdathletic) July 26, 2025

Following a corner kick into the box, Hartford defender TJ Presthus elected to attempt a bicycle kick that was buried into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

After the initial 45+5 minutes, the match entered halftime with Hartford Athletic ahead 1-0.

The second half began with Rhode Island FC starting from the center circle and quickly advancing the ball into Hartford’s defensive third.

Entering the 48th minute, RIFC leveled the scoreline.

An Amos Shapiro-Thompson equalizing goal for the feed 😤 #WickedGoodGoal | @capellisport pic.twitter.com/SLuGQrEyqH

— Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) July 27, 2025

Following a poorly defended ball, midfielder Marc Ybarra collected the ball and found midfielder Amos Shapiro-Thompson atop the box. Amos cut centrally and buried it into the top left corner to level it at 1-1.

Less than one minute later, Hartford had a massive chance when forward Mamadou Dieng’s shot inside the area went just wide of the left post.

RIFC had a massive chance in the 53rd minute when midfielder Clay Holstad out ran his defender and played a perfect square-ball into the box, however, there were no RIFC players in the area to finish his cross.

In the 60th minute, RIFC interim head coach Dave McKay made his second change of the match by replacing Hugo Bacharach & JJ Williams with Maxi Rodriguez & Albert Dikwa.

The next course of action came in the 64th minute when Hartford Athletic defender Joe Farrell was issued a yellow card for a foul on Noah Fuson.

In the 71st minute, RIFC midfielder Maxi Rodriguez was issued a yellow card after a sliding challenge near midfield.

In the 75th minute, RIFC interim head coach Dave McKay made his second change of the match by replacing Jojea Kwizera & Clay Holstad with Aldair Sanchez & Joe Brito.

Just two minutes later, in the 77th minute, RIFC were given a penalty kick. Hartford Athletic goalkeeper Antony Siaha was issued a yellow card for dissent.

Maxi from the spot 💪 #WickedGoodGoal | @capellisport pic.twitter.com/9NJnSNPLha

— Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) July 27, 2025

Rhode Island FC forward Maxi Rodriguez stepped up to take the penalty kick and buried it into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Antony Siaha to make it 2-1 to Rhode Island.

Following the goal, Hartford head coach Brendan Burke made his first change of the match by replacing Marlon Hairston with Junior Moreira.

Entering the 83rd minute, Hartford leveled the scoreline.

🏥 @hfdathletic stays ALIVE, and it's Adrian Diz Pe with the leveler!#USLJägermeisterCup pic.twitter.com/MCrR17asC0

— USL Jägermeister Cup (@USL_Cup) July 27, 2025

Adrián Diz received a pass from Mamadou Dieng and buried it past Jackson Lee to make it 2-2.

In the 86th minute, Hartford head coach Brendan Burke made his second change of the match by replacing Jonathan Jiménez with Kyle Edwards.

After the 90+5 minutes, the match concluded in a 2-2 draw. The match will enter a penalty shootout to determine which team will receive an extra point.

RIFC took the first penalty kick. Maxi Rodriguez stepped up and buried it into the top left corner past goalkeeper Antony Siaha to make it 1-0 to Rhode Island

Hartford’s first penalty kick taker was Joseph Farrell. He stepped up and buried it into the bottom right past Jackson Lee to level the scoreline at 1-1.

RIFC’s second penalty kick was taken by Noah Fuson. He stepped up and buried it into the top right corner past goalkeeper Antony Siaha to make it 2-1 to Rhode Island

Hartford’s second penalty kick taker was Adrián Diz. He stepped up and buried it into the bottom left past Jackson Lee to level the scoreline at 2-2.

RIFC’s third penalty kick was taken by Marc Ybarra. He stepped up and struck the crossbar to keep it level at 2-2.

Hartford’s third penalty kick taker was Mamadou Dieng. He stepped up and buried it into the top right past Jackson Lee to take the lead in the shootout 3-2.

RIFC’s fourth penalty kick was taken by Albert Dikwa. He stepped up and buried it down the center of the goal past Antony Siaha to level it at 3-3.

Hartford’s fourth penalty kick taker was Kyle Edwards. He stepped up and buried it into the top left past Jackson Lee to take the lead in the shootout 4-3

RIFC’s fifth penalty kick was taken by Aldair Sanchez. He stepped up and struck the post. Hartford win 4-3 in the penalty shootout.

RIFC have advanced to the next round of the Jägermeister Cup.

Khano Smith and Rhode Island FC (4-5-8, 17 pts.) are on the road to face Eastern Conference side Pittsburgh Riverhounds (6-4-6, 22 pts.). The match will kick off at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, August 2nd at 7:00PM EST. For more USL Championship content, you can find it on ESPN+