Rhode Island FC battle to 1-1 draw with 10-men Sporting JAX

PAWTUCKET, RI– Rhode Island FC (0-1-0, 1 pts) battled to a 1-1 draw versus Sporting Club Jacksonville (0-1-0, 1 pts) on Saturday night.

The match kicked off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Centreville Bank Stadium to a crowd of 8,000.

Rhode Island FC starting lineup: 4-4-2| Koke Vegas (C), Jojea Kwizera, Karifa Yao, Grant Stoneman, Frank Nodarse, Clay Holstad, Zachary Herivaux, Agustin Rodriguez, Nick Scardina, Leo Afonso, JJ Williams

Rhode Island FC substitutes:| Will Meyer, Aldair Sanchez, Hugo Bacharach, Dwayne Atkinson, Noah Fuson, Logan Dorsey, Calvin Williams

Sporting Jax starting lineup: 4-3-3 | Christian Olivares, Harvey Neville, Mohamed Traore, A. Gomez, Tyshawn Rose, Jacob Evans, Wan Kuzain, Ezekiel Soto, Dida Armstrong, Kieran Sadlier, Emil Jaaskelainen

Sporting Jax substitutes:| Jack McGuire, Jordan Rossiter, Adam Luckhurst, Ahmad Al-Qaq, Wahab Ackwei, Rafferty Pedder, Thomas Roberts

The match kicked off with

Nick Scardina had the first chance of the match for Rhode Island FC in the 11th minute when his right footed effort went just wide of the left post.

Just two minutes later, Leo Afonso had a chance of his own for Rhode Island, however, it was blocked away and cleared.

JJ Williams had the next chance in the 22nd minute when his left footed effort was saved in the center of the goal by goalkeeper Christian Oliveras.

Sporting Jax’s first chance of the match came in the 24th minute when an effort towards goal by forward Tyshawn Rose was saved comfortably by Koke Vegas.

In the 29th minute, Sporting Jax forward Emil Jaaskelainen was issued a yellow card for a foul on Karifa Yao.

In the 33rd minute, RIFC midfielder Jojea Kwizera was issued a yellow card for a foul on forward Emil Jaaskelainen.

JJ Williams had the next chance for Rhode Island in the 35th minute when his close range attempt was sent over the bar.

Kieran Sadlier then had an opportunity just 5 minutes later for Sporting Jax, however, his left footed effort was sent over the bar.

Rhode Island had 3 clear chances in the 43rd minute when efforts by JJ Williams, Grant Stoneman, & Agustin Rodriguez were blocked, hit the post, and then missed just high of the net.

In the 45th minute, Rhode Island FC had thought they had taken the lead, however, the goal was called back. Following the decision, Rhode Island FC head coach Khano Smith was issued a yellow card.

After the initial 45+3 minutes, the match entered halftime with the scoreline level at 0-0.

The second half began with

Leo Afonso had the first chance of the second half in the 48th minute when his right footed shot in the center of the box went just wide of the right post.

Just 4 minutes later, Sporting Jax defender Jacob Evans had a chance that was saved by goalkeeper Koke Vegas.

In the 59th minute, Sporting Jax head coach Liam Fox made his first three changes of the match by replacing Wan Kuzain, Ezekiel Soto, & Jacob Evans with Jordan Rossiter, Rafferty Pedder, & Thomas Roberts.

Nick Scardina had yet another chance in the 61st minute when his effort was saved by goalkeeper Christian Oliveras in the bottom left corner.

In the 64th minute, both teams made changes. RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his first change of the match by replacing Agustin Rodriguez with Noah Fuson. Sporting Jax head coach Liam Fox made his fourth change of the match by replacing Dida Armstrong with Ahmad Al-Qaq.

JJ Williams had yet another opportunity in the 67th minute when his right footed effort was sent wide of the left post.

Just two minutes later, in the 69th minute, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his second change of the match by replacing Nick Scardina with Logan Dorsey.

In the 73rd minute, Sporting Jax midfielder Jordan Rossiter was issued a yellow card for a foul on midfielder Zachary Herivaux.

Just two minutes later, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his third change of the match by replacing Zachary Herivaux with Hugo Bacharach.

In the 78th minute, RIFC took the lead.

Following a poor clearance by goalkeeper Christian Oliveras, the ball deflected and fell kindly for midfielder Logan Dorsey to have an easy finish to make it 1-0 to Rhode Island FC.

In the 84th minute, Sporting Jax leveled the scoreline.

Following a close range shot by forward Emil Jaaskelainen, the ball was pounced on and finished home by midfielder Rafferty Pedder to level the scoreline at 1-1. This is the first goal in Sporting Club Jacksonville history.

In the 88th minute, Sporting Jax midfielder Jordan Rossiter was issued a second yellow card foul on forward Leo Afonso. Sporting Jax would play with 10-men for the remainder of the match.

Rhode Island had a chance in the 90+1 minute when two efforts towards goal by forward Leo Afonso were blocked and then sent wide of the net.

Leo Afonso had a massive chance from a service into the area by Frank Nodarse in the 90+5 minute that was saved by goalkeeper Christian Oliveras.

After the 90+8 minutes, the match concluded in a 1-1 draw.

Khano Smith and Rhode Island FC (0-1-0, 1 pts.) remain home to face CD Faialense in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match will kick off at Centreville Bank Stadium on Tuesday, March 17th at 7:00PM EST. For more USL Championship content, you can find it on ESPN+