Rhode Island
In messy game, Rhode Island FC knots Oakland Roots SC on late score from Albert Dikwa
SMITHFIELD — Saturday night was a disjointed mess of stoppages.
Rhode Island FC and Oakland Roots SC are both in the thick of a playoff race with 10 matches left. And with Oakland nursing an early advantage at Beirne Stadium, Rhode Island quickened its pace searching for a goal. Oakland used every pause to its advantage and much to the dismay of Rhode Island.
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Tensions then boiled over in the 72nd minute when Oakland’s Neveal Hackshaw was tagged with a red card for pulling down JJ Williams on the break just outside of the box. Rhode Island’s free kick was blocked, but they found the equalizer before extra time.
Joe Brito, who just entered the match, found Albert Dikwa in the center of the box for a clean header to the far post in the 86th minute. The 1-1 score held through seven minutes of stoppage time as Rhode Island secured one point and have the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. RIFC is now unbeaten in 10 of its last 11 matches, including its last five at home.
“I don’t normally complain about the referees, but it was poor,” Khano Smith said. “Time management was poor. How many times did their players go down waste time?
“I’d be embarrassed if my players did that. I wouldn’t — I don’t want my players to behave like that. I want the game to be fast, fast-paced and try to win the game. I’m sorry our fans had to watch that, to be honest, because that’s not what we’re trying to provide.”
Oakland took the advantage on a header from Hackshaw off a corner in the 32nd minute. Rhode Island finished the match with 14 corners attempted to Oakland’s four and had 22 shots. RIFC also had possession for over 60% of the match, which featured 25 total fouls.
“I felt like we were the better team,” Smith said. “Sometimes I won’t say that, but it was clear to me that we were the better team today. We were the one team that was trying to attack and trying to take the initiative in the game, [just] fell asleep on a set piece.”
Oakland was only tagged with one yellow card for time wasting and it came in the 96th minute. Four points separate RIFC and North Carolina FC, who lost on Saturday, for the final playoff spot in the conference. Rhode Island travels to Loudoun United FC, who sits just ahead of them in the standings, on Aug. 24.
“I’m disappointed to tie the game,” Smith said. “I’m not disappointed in how we played. We were the dominant team from [the first minute] to minute 97. So I’m disappointed that we didn’t win the game, I’m not disappointed in the way they played.”
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
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