Ocean State club looks to bounce back at Charleston Battery on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (Sept. 19, 2026) – Despite a spirited first-half rally, Rhode Island FC came up just short at Centreville Bank Stadium on Saturday, falling 2-1 to Miami FC. Karifa Yao nodded his second career goal for the Ocean State club late in the first half to level the game at one, but the effort was not enough to overcome a second-half Miami goal as the visitors left with all three points.
Miami FC (6W-10L-9T) got off to a hot start in enemy territory, taking the lead in the 25th minute. Harwan Alzubaidi collected the ball on the left wing, dropping two defenders with a fantastic solo dribble into the box before playing a ball to Arney Rocha in behind. His close-range cross found Rocha, who quickly took the ball down at the top of the six-yard box before depositing a tidy close-range finish into the bottom-right corner.
Miami took advantage of the early momentum, and nearly doubled the lead nine minutes later when Mason Tunbridge tore through the Rhode Island FC (9W-9L-5T) back line and into the box. The crafty winger placed a low shot towards the bottom-left corner, but RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas got down in time to deny a shot that looked destined for the back of the net.
Inspired by the momentum, the homeside wasted no time hitting back. RIFC knotted the game just 11 minutes later when Yao rose above everyone to power home Yutaro Tsukada’s corner kick at the back post. The physical defender knocked the header off the ground and into the roof of the net, scoring his second career goal in Amber and Blue.
A testy, physical game remained in the balance until the 73rd minute, when Miami struck again to re-take the lead. Exploding in transition from their own half, Miami’s Denilson Milanés got on the end of a well-weighted through ball down the middle. He dribbled into the box and around an outstretched Vegas, who came off his line to contest the run but could not reach the ball in time. Although Grant Stoneman got back in time to sweep Milanés’ initial shot off the goal line, the rebound fell kindly to the forward, who made no mistake finding the back of the net the second time around.
RIFC nearly clawed its way back several times, knocking on the door with five of its eight total shots coming in the second half. In the 78th minute, Noah Fuson came close to the breakthrough with a curling shot that flew just wide, but the shot did not drop enough to test the frame. After hanging on deep into stoppage time, Miami ultimately did enough to fend off the hosts, handing RIFC its second loss of the season at Centreville Bank Stadium.
Up next, Rhode Island FC will head to Patriots Point Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. for its second meeting of the season vs. Charleston Battery, before returning home on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. to face Indy Eleven in a crucial game in the playoff race. Tickets to the next home game are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
MIA – Harwan Alzubaidi (Arney Rocha), 25th minute: Rocha tucks a close-range shot into the bottom-left corner. RI 0, MIA 1
RI – Karifa Yao (Yutaro Tsukada), 36th minute: Yao drills home Tsukada’s corner with a header at the back post. RI 1, MIA 1
MIA – Denilson Milanés, 74th minute: Milanés pounces on a rebounded clearance. RI 1, MIA 2
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Karifa Yao scored his second career goal for Rhode Island FC. He scored his first goal for the club on May 11, 2024 in a 2-2 tie vs. Sacramento Republic FC on May 11, 2024.
- Yutaro Tsukada collected his second career assist for Rhode Island FC. He has two goals and two assists in his first seven appearances for the club, and has registered a goal contribution in back-to-back games.
- With seven games remaining, RIFC remain five points clear of ninth-place Miami FC in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Karifa Yao
Game stats and information available here.
For Rhode Island FC news and updates, visit rhodeislandfc.com, subscribe to RIFC’s monthly newsletter, follow the club on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, X and LinkedIn, and download the official team app.
