June 13, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC Press Release
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A late lead wasn’t enough for Rhode Island FC to earn its second win of the season, holding Memphis 901 FC to a 2-2 draw Wednesday night at AutoZone Park. A pair of first RIFC goals from Conor McGlynn and Joe Brito gave the Ocean State club a 2-0 lead heading into the final minute, before a late red card and stoppage-time penalty saw the hosts steal a point in improbable fashion.
Rhode Island FC (1W-4L-9D) struck first in the 17th minute of the first half when JJ Williams threw a bouncing pass into the box toward McGlynn’s feet. McGlynn, who plucked the ball out of the air with a powerful first-time volley, beat a diving Tyler Deric and buried a right-footed effort to give RIFC an early 1-0 lead. The goal was McGlynn’s first goal in a USL Championship match this season and second overall for RIFC.
Less than 10 minutes later, McGlynn was on the verge of scoring his second goal. After Deric blocked Mark Doyle’s close-range effort from a JJ Williams throw-in, McGlynn made contact on the rebound from inside the six-yard box. However, the Queens, New York native failed to keep the ball on target as the strike landed just short of the near post.
Memphis 901 FC (5W-6L-4D) eventually found the back of the net in the 34th minute when Marlon chipped in well against Koke Vegas, but the hosts’ leading scorer was ruled out for offside. Eight minutes later, a stretched Vegas were back in action, this time producing a brilliant fingertip save to deny Emerson Hyndman’s curling effort as RIFC went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead.
Despite increasing pressure from the hosts in the first half, RIFC doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Noah Fuson entered the box and fired low. After Derek reached first, second-half substitute Brito slotted the ball just past the goal line and into the back of the net three minutes after entering the field, giving the ball to the Ocean State club. Insurance Goals. The goal was the first of Brito’s USL Championship career.
The game took a major turn when Vegas was shown a red card for a foul just outside his 18-yard box with less than three minutes left in regulation. Taking advantage of a free kick awarded after a Las Vegas foul, Memphis’ Samuel Careaga curled the ball over the wall and put the ball one goal past substitute goalkeeper Jackson Lee in the 90th minute.
The second half continued with Carifa Yao blowing the foul whistle in the penalty box in the 11th minute of added time, giving Memphis the opportunity to tie the game in a penalty shootout. Malone, who stepped up to claim the kick, sent Lee guessing the wrong way to bury his team-leading sixth goal of the season, salvaging a point for the hosts in the final seconds as the game finished 2-2.
Next, Rhode Island FC completes a two-game road trip as they travel to Louisville City FC on Saturday, June 22nd at 8pm to face the Eastern Conference leaders for the second time. Fans can cheer on their team at the official Rhode Island FC Watch Party at Shaidzon Beer Co. in West Kingston or watch the game on NESN. After a second successive road match, RIFC returns to Beirne Stadium on Wednesday, June 26 when they welcome El Paso Locomotive FC for PRIde Night at 7:30pm. Tickets for the next home game are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
Goal scoring summary
RI – Conor McGlynn, 18 mins: Conor McGlynn scores a first-time volley from inside the 18-yard box. Memory 0, RI 1
RI – Joe Brito, 67 mins: Brito pushes Fuson’s shot just over the goal line. Memory 0, RI 2
MEM – Samuel Careaga, 90 minutes: Careaga scores a free kick just outside the penalty area. Mem 1, RI 2
MEM – Marlon Santos (90+11 mins): Santos scores a penalty kick past Jackson Lee. Mem 2, RI 2
Additional notes
In his second consecutive start since returning from injury, Conor McGlynn scored his first USL Championship goal for RIFC and second overall for the club. His first goal came in his Lamar Hunt US Open Cup debut for the club on April 16.
Joe Brito scored his first career USL Championship goal in the 66th minute, less than three minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
McGlynn and Brito became the seventh and eighth players to score in a USL Championship game for RIFC this season.
McGlynn’s opener was the seventh time RIFC have scored in a game this season and their fourth in their last six games. It also marks the fourth time an Ocean State club has gone into halftime with a lead.
The draw leaves RIFC with a total of 12 points, eighth in the Eastern Conference standings and just two points out of the final playoff spot.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Connor McGlynn
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