JJ Williams’ 2-goal, 1-assist performance propels RIFC to a 5-0 victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies

PAWTUCKET, RI– Rhode Island FC (10-7-11, 37 pts) were victorious 5-0 over Tampa Bay Rowdies (8-6-14, 30 pts) on Saturday night.

The match kicked off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Centreville Bank Stadium to a crowd of 10,500.

Rhode Island FC starting lineup: 3-4-3 | Koke Vegas, Hamady Diop, Karifa Yao, Grant Stoneman, Clay Holstad, Hugo Bachrach, Aldair Sanchez, Frank Nodarse, Noah Fuson, Amos Shapiro-Thompson, JJ Williams

Rhode Island FC substitutes:| Dani Rovira, Aime Mabika, Dwayne Atkinson, Albert Dikwa, Maxi Rodriguez, Jackson Lee, Marc Ybarra

Tampa Bay Rowdies starting lineup: 3-4-2-1 |Bill Hamid, Aaron Guillen, Forrest Lasso, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Blake Bodily, Daniel Criostomo, Alex Mendez, Juan Azocar, Paul Marie, Luis Alvarez, Manuel Arteaga

Tampa Bay Rowdies substitutes:| Robert Castellanos, Nick Moon, Charlie Sharp, Joey Skinner, Laurence Wyke, Alexander Rodriguez, Ethan Bandre

The match kicked off with Tampa Bay Rowdies starting from the center circle as they immediately kicked the ball out of bounds to lock Rhode Island into their defensive third.

Amos Shapiro-Thompson had the first chance of the match for Rhode Island FC after a corner kick delivery fell kindly for a half-volley attempt that went high over the net in the 7th minute.

Less than 30 seconds later, Rhode Island FC took the lead.

Forward JJ Williams unleashed a right footed curling shot that snuck into the bottom right corner past Bill Hamid to make it 1-0 to Rhode Island FC.

In the 10th minute, Rhode Island FC defender Grant Stoneman was issued a yellow card for a deliberate hand-ball to stop a counter attack.

In the 15th minute, Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Dominic Casciato was forced to make his first change by replacing Blake Bodily with Joey Skinner.

Tampa’s first chance of the match came entering the 27th minute when a corner kick effort was headed over the bar by Forrest Lasso.

Entering the 28th minute, RIFC added to their lead

Forward JJ Williams found forward Noah Fuson in-behind for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Bill Hamid as he slotted it past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 to Rhode Island FC.

Noah Fuson had another chance in the 30th minute when his right-footed effort was met with a slow diving save by goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

Rhode Island’s next chance came in the 34th minute when a corner kick delivery by Hamady Diop was headed away by Tampa Bay, fell for Aldair Sanchez, whose effort was deflected into the goal and called offsides. Still 2-0.

Tampa Bay Rowdies next chance came in the 42nd minute when an effort towards goal by Paul Marie just missed the bottom left corner.

Entering the 44th minute, RIFC were given a penalty kick.

JJ Williams stepped up and buried it past Bill Hamid to make it 3-0 to Rhode Island FC.

After the initial 45+3 minutes, the match entered halftime with Rhode Island FC ahead 3-0.

Prior to the start of the second half, both teams made changes. RIFC head coach Khano Smith replaced JJ Williams with Albert Dikwa. Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Dominic Casciato made his second change by replacing Luis Alvarez with Laurence Wyke.

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

Albert Dikwa had RIFC’s first chance of the second half when Albert Dikwa’s effort towards goal in the 48th minute went just wide of the net.

Tampa’s first chance of the second half came in the 54th minute when a right-footed effort from the right flank by Juan Azocar was sent high over the bar.

Aaron Guillen had an ambitious effort in the 59th minute when he tried to catch out Koke Vegas off his line, but his effort went out for a goal kick.

Entering the 69th minute, RIFC added to their lead.

Midfielder Noah Fuson sent a ball toward the back-post that was then played back by across by Grant Stoneman for the simple headed finish by Albert Dikwa to make it 4-0.

In the 75th minute, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his final three changes of the match by replacing Grant Stoneman, Hugo Bacharach, & Frank Nodarse with Maxi Rodriguez, Aime Mabika, & Dwayne Atkinson.

Following the substitutions, Rhode Island had thought that they found their 5th goal when a freekick delivery into the area by Hamady Diop snuck into the bottom corner, however, multiple RIFC players were offsides, and the score remained 4-0.

In the 78th minute, Tampa Bay defender Aaron Guillen was issued a yellow card.

Just two minutes later, In the 80th minute, Tampa Bay forward Manuel Arteaga was issued a yellow card.

Alex Mendez had the next chance for Tampa Bay in the 82nd minute when a long-distant shot was tipped to the crossbar by Koke Vegas. The rebound fell for Manuel Arteaga, however, his effort hit the outside netting.

In the 83rd minute, Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Dominic Casciato made his final two changes of the match by replacing Paul Marie & Manuel Arteaga with Nick Moon & Charlie Sharp.

Entering the 87th minute, RIFC added to their lead.

Forward Albert Dikwa set forward Maxi Rodriguez for the lofted finish over Bill Hamid to make it 5-0 to Rhode Island FC.

In the 90+1 minute, RIFC forward Noah Fuson was issued a yellow card.

After the 90+2 minutes, Rhode Island FC held on comfortably for their 5-0 victory.

With the result, Rhode Island FC move to 8th place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference with 2 games to go!

Khano Smith and Rhode Island FC (10-7-11, 37 pts) are on the road to face Eastern Conference side North Carolina FC (12-5-11, 41 pts.). The match will kick off at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, October 18th at 7:00PM EST. For more USL Championship content, you can find it on ESPN+