Ocean State club returns to Centreville Bank Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Aug. 2, 2026) – Despite peppering the goal with an onslaught of dangerous chances throughout the game, Rhode Island FC fell 1-0 to Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Stadium on Sunday. The Ocean State club rattled off 19 shots, 23 crosses and 13 corners throughout the game, but struggled to convert as its two-game winning run came to an end in Alabama.
In a dominant first half that saw Rhode Island FC (5W-7L-7T) out-shoot Birmingham Legion FC (3W-6L-8T) 14-3, RIFC held the hosts to just one shot in the first 38 minutes. The Ocean State club’s wingers went to work putting in 17 crosses and 10 corners in the first 45 minutes alone, and nearly found the payoff in the 18th minute when JJ Williams got on the end of Jojea Kwizera’s close-range cross in the six-yard box. Williams nodded Kwizera’s cross on frame, but Birmingham goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat came up big to tip the ball off the woodwork.
Kwizera also got in on the action in the 27th minute, winding around his defender down the right wing after getting on the end of Amos Shapiro-Thompson’s long ball. Kwizera moved quickly into the box and unleashed a powerful shot, but Koleilat got down low to knock the effort away. Koleilat came up with four vital stops throughout the first half, denying a pair of spectacular long-range shots from Noah Fuson in the 29th and 33rd minutes to keep the game level going into the break.
In the 51st minute, Fuson nearly rippled the net from range once again, unleashing a powerful effort that Koleilat denied with a diving save. However, despite the momentum, it was Birmingham who opened the scoring 12 minutes later after Ronaldo Damus took advantage of a defensive mistake, getting on the end of a long ball and slotting it into an empty net to make it 1-0.
RIFC continued to push for a late equalizer, but Birmingham stood strong to keep the Ocean State club out, holding on for its second win over Rhode Island FC this season.
Up next, Rhode Island FC will return to Centreville Bank Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8 when it takes on Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC for a rematch of the 2024 USL Championship Final. Tickets to the next home game are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
BHM – Ronaldo Damus, 63rd minute: Damus slots the ball into an open net from close range. BHM 1, RI 0
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Yutaro Tsukada made his Rhode Island FC debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 70th minute.
- Hamady Diop returned from an eight-game injury absence, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 79th minute and appearing for the first time since RIFC’s 4-1 win vs. Brooklyn FC on May 23.
- Rhode Island FC out-shot Birmingham 19-9, held 58 percent possession and dominated the stat sheet in corners (13-3) and crosses (23-9).
- Noah Fuson led both teams with a season-high five shots, three of which were on target.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Noah Fuson
Game stats and information available here.
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