New England Revolution players celebrate with goalkeeper Donovan Parisian after winning a penalty shootout victory over Rhode Island FC. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution.
SMITHFIELD, RI– New England Revolution and Rhode Island FC battled through 120 minutes of play in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on Saturday night that resulted in a 1-1 (3-1 victory in penalties) for New England.
The match kicked off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Centreville Bank Stadium to a crowd of 6,073.
Starting XIs between New England & Rhode Island FC.
New England starting lineup: 4-3-3 | Donovan Parisian, Peyton Miller, Tanner Beason (C), Ethan Kohler, Damario McIntosh, Cristiano Oliveira, Eric Klein, Diego Fagundez, Griffin Yow, Malcolm Fry, Marcos Zambrano
New England substitutes:| JD Gunn, Andrew Farrell, Jayden Da, Ilay Feingold, Luca Langoni, Allan Oyirwoth, Jackson Yueill
Rhode Island FC starting lineup: 3-5-2 | Koke Vegas (C), Aldair Sanchez, Grant Stoneman, Karifa Yao, Nick Scardina, Clay Holstad, Dwayne Atkinson, Agustín Rodríguez, Noah Fuson, Amos Shaprio-Thompson, Logan Dorsey
Rhode Island FC substitutes:| Jacob Castro, Hamady Diop, Jojea Kwizera, Frank Nodarse, JJ Williams, Leo Afonso, Hugo Bacharach
The match kicked off with New England starting from the center circle as they elected to build out of the back to begin the match.
Diego Fagundez had the first chance for New England just two minutes into the match after a free kick effort into the area was cleared and was met with a Fagundez volley that was deflected away.
Rhode Island’s first chance came in the 5th minute when a service into the area by Noah Fuson was just missed by Logan Dorsey.
New England’s next chance came from a corner kick delivery in the 17th minute that was sent through the box and cleared.
Marcos Zambrano looks to make a play during a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match versus Rhode Island FC. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution.
In the 43rd minute, RIFC midfielder Amos-Shapiro Thompson was issued a yellow card for a foul on midfielder Diego Fagundez.
Marcos Zambrano had the final chance of the half in the 45+1 minute when his right-footed shot was sent just over the bar.
After the initial 45+1 minutes, the match entered halftime with the scoreline level at 0-0.
Halftime between New England Revolution & Rhode Island FC.
Prior to the start of the second half, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his first change of the match by replacing Amos Shapiro-Thompson with Hugo Bacharach.
The second half began with Rhode Island FC starting from the center circle as they elected to swiftly advance the ball into New England’s defensive third.
Entering the 51st minute, New England took the lead.
Following a back-post delivery into the box by defender Peyton Miller, the ball was met with a header that was centered by defender Damario McIntosh and buried into the net by midfielder Diego Fagundez to make it 1-0 to New England.
In the 52nd minute, Revolution defender Peyton Miller was issued a yellow card for a foul on midfielder Noah Fuson.
Following the foul, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made three changes by replacing forwards Dwayne Atkinson, Agustín Rodríguez, & Logan Dorsey with forwards JJ Williams, Leo Afonso & Jojea Kwizera.
In the 60th minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his first change of the match by replacing midfielder Cristiano Oliveira with midfielder Jackson Yueill.
New England Revolution players celebrate Diego Fagundez’ goal versus Rhode Island FC. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution.
In the 64th minute, Rhode Island FC defender Karifa Yao was issued a yellow card for a harsh foul on midfielder Diego Fagundez.
The ensuing freekick by Fagundez struck the wall. The ensuing rebound then fell for Peyton Miller as his shot was deflected out for a corner kick.
In the 68th minute, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made another change by replacing defender Karifa Yao with defender Hamady Diop.
In the 75th minute, Revolution forward Marcos Zambrano was issued a yellow card for dissent.
Rhode Island FC had the next chance in the 77th minute when a corner kick delivery into the area by Jojea Kwizera was met with a commanding punch away by goalkeeper Donovan Parisian.
In the 80th minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his second & third changes of the match by replacing midfielders Malcolm Fry & Diego Fagundez with midfielders Allan Oyirwoth & Luca Langoni.
Leo Afonso had a massive chance in the 82nd minute when his right-footed shot while on a breakaway was met with a spectacular stop by goalkeeper Donovan Parisian.
In the 83rd minute, RIFC midfielder Jojea Kwizera was issued a yellow card for kicking the ball away after stopping play dead for a hand-ball.
Ethan Kohler looks to make a play during a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match versus Rhode Island FC. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution.
In the 85th minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his fourth and fifth changes of the match by replacing defenders Ethan Kohler & Damario McIntosh with defenders Andrew Farrell & Ilay Feingold.
In the 90+4 minute, Revolution midfielder Allan Oyirwoth was issued a yellow card for a foul on defender Hugo Bacharach.
Griffin Yow had a massive chance from distance in the 90+6 minute that just missed over the bar.
Allan Oyirwoth had another great chance for New England in the 90+8 minute when his right footed shot towards the bottom right corner just missed.
Rhode Island had the best chance of the match in the 90+10 minute when a ball played into the area was not claimed by Donovan Parisian contending for a ball with JJ Williams as it was bobbled, it fell towards the backpost was headed towards goal by Hugo Bacharach, struck the bar, and then was swatted by Donovan Parisian and cleared.
Entering the 90+10 minute, RIFC leveled the scoreline.
Following a delivery into the area that was deflected by midfielder Allan Oyirwoth, the ball was headed by JJ Williams into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1.
After the 90+10 minutes, the scoreline remained level at 1-1. An additional 30 minutes would be played to determine a winner.
Prior to the start of the extra time, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrovic made his final change of the match by replacing Marcos Zambrano with Jayden Da.
The first period of extra time began with Rhode Island FC swiftly advancing the ball into New England’s defensive third.
JJ Williams had the first chance during the 103rd minute of extra time when his header missed the left post by a few yards.
Just one minute later, in the 94th minute, RIFC head coach Khano Smith made his final change of the match by replacing defender Nick Scardina with defender Frank Nodarse.
Revolution goalkeeper Donovan Parisian looks to receive the ball during a US Open Cup Match. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution.
In the 97th minute, RIFC forward Leo Afonso was issued a yellow card for dissent.
Luca Langoni had a chance to break the deadlock in the 103rd minute when his effort was blocked off the line and then was cleared out for a corner kick.
Jayden Da had a massive chance to score in the 105th minute when a cut-back cross by Luca Langoni went through Da’s legs and through the entire box.
After the first 15 minutes of extra time, the match remained level at 1-1.
The second period of extra time began with New England swiftly advancing the ball into Rhode Island’s defensive third.
In the 106th minute, Revolution forward Jayden Da was issued a yellow card for shoving a Rhode Island defender Hamady Diop in the back.
Rhode Island had a massive chance in the 109th minute when a horrific back-pass by defender Tanner Beason was centered for a one-time shot by Leo Afonso that was sent over the bar.
New England Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović looks on during their US Open Cup clash versus Rhode Island FC. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution.
JJ Williams had a massive chance in the 113th minute when his headed effort towards goal was saved by goalkeeper Donovan Parisian.
Jayden Da had a chance to score in the 118th minute when his shot towards goal was deflected and then claimed by goalkeeper Koke Vegas.
Allan Oyirwoth had arguably the chance of extra time when his right-footed effort towards goal was questionably deflected by a RIFC players hand & out for a corner kick.
After 120 minutes of play, the scoreline remained level. A penalty shootout would be used to determine which team would advance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Rhode Island’s first penalty kick taker was Hamady Diop. His left footed shot was buried in the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 to Rhode Island FC.
New England’s first penalty kick taker was Luca Langoni. His right footed shot was buried into the middle right of the net to level the scoreline at 1-1
Rhode Island’s second penalty kick taker was Jojea Kwizera. His left footed shot was saved in the bottom right corner by goalkeeper Donovan Parisian to keep it 1-1
New England’s second penalty kick taker was Andrew Farrel. His right footed shot was buried in the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to New England.
Rhode Island’s third penalty kick taker was Leo Afonso. His right footed shot toward the bottom left corner was saved by goalkeeper Donovan Parisian to keep it 2-1 to New England
New England’s third penalty kick taker was Ilay Feingold. His right footed shot toward the bottom right corner was saved by goalkeeper Koke Vegas to keep it 2-1 to New England.
Rhode Island’s fourth penalty kick taker was JJ Williams. His right footed shot toward the top left was saved by goalkeeper Donovan Parisian to keep it 2-1 to New England.
New England’s fourth penalty kick taker was Tanner Beason. His left footed shot was buried into the bottom corner to win it 3-1 for New England.
Fulltime between New England Revolution & Rhode Island FC.
With this result, New England have advanced to 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. They will face the winner of Orlando City SC & FC Naples. Additionally, with this result, Rhode Island FC have been eliminated.
Marko Mitrović and the New England Revolution (3-0-3, 9 pts.) remain home to face Eastern Conference side Columbus Crew (1-3-3, 6 pts.) The match is set to kickoff at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, April 14th at 7:o0 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
Khano Smith and Rhode Island FC (1-2-2, 5 pts) remain home to face Eastern Conference side Charleston Battery (3-0-2, 9 pts.). The match will kick off at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, April 18th at 7:30PM EST. For more USL Championship content, you can find it on ESPN+
(Editor’s Note: For more of Adrian Heisohn-Roe’s photos, click on the link)
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