Ocean State club will kick off third-straight playoff campaign at Charleston Battery on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 24, 2026) – Rhode Island FC and Hartford Athletic ended the 2026 USL Championship regular season with a dramatic 2-1 finish at Trinity Health Stadium on Saturday. Despite RIFC taking an early lead in the derby matchup, Hartford responded with two late goals, and the Ocean State club fell just short in its quest for a late-game equalizer. RIFC enters the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs as the No. 7 seed, setting up an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal date with No. 2 Charleston Battery in the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
Rhode Island FC (13W-11L-6T) and Hartford Athletic (9W-8L-13T) played to an even standstill through the opening phase, with both sides struggling to generate dangerous chances. Hartford’s first real chance came in the 21st minute from the corner, when RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas rose above the Athletic attackers to punch out the cross.
On the other end, RIFC found its first shot on frame four minutes later with a corner of its own. Jojea Kwizera’s cross found the far post, where Karifa Yao muscled his way to the goal line to body the chance past Hartford goalkeeper Antony Siaha, giving the Ocean State club a one-goal lead on the road.
RIFC came out of the half strong, nearly doubling its advantage in the 56th minute. Forward Stas Korzeniowski outran the Hartford backline, chasing down a clearance and fighting through late pressure. Hartford’s defense managed to get a late foot in the way of Korzeniowski’s effort, and the ball trickled just wide of the goalmouth.
In the 68th minute, the homeside hit back. Hartford pushed forward into the final third when Emmanuel Samadia got on the end of a lofted cross into the penalty area, volleying the ball back into the six-yard box. Sadat Anaku met the cross from close range and placed a header into the bottom-left corner to pull even at one apiece.
Ten minutes later, Hartford doubled its tally to take a come-from-behind lead. Samuel Careaga’s pass found open space through the penalty area and fell right to the foot of Samadia, who buried a powerful shot just under the crossbar to give Hartford Athletic a 2-1 advantage.
Despite resiliently pushing for an equalizer in the final minutes, the Ocean State club could not find the leveling goal. Siaha stifled Frank Nodarse’s final push to end the contest, corralling the defender’s shot on frame in the final minute to secure the 2-1 victory.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 regular season, RIFC enters the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs as the No. 7 seed, and will travel to Patriots Point Soccer Stadium to take on No. 2 Charleston Battery for the third time in three postseason campaigns on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. For information on Rhode Island FC’s upcoming playoff push, including broadcast information and any potential postseason home games, visit www.rhodeislandfc.com/playoffs.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
RI – Karifa Yao (Jojea Kwizera), 25th minute: Yao knocks home Kwizera’s corner kick. HFD 0, RI 1
HFD – Sadat Anaku (Emmanuel Samadia), 68th minute: Anaku connects with Samadia’s cross and tucks a header into the bottom-left corner. HFD 1, RI 1
HFD – Emmanuel Samadia (Samuel Careaga), 78th minute: Samadia buries a powerful shot into the roof of the net. HFD 2, RI 1
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Karifa Yao scored his third goal of the season, and the fourth goal of his Rhode Island FC career. All of his goals have come in the last eight games of the regular season.
- Jojea Kwizera picked up his fourth assist of the season, tying him for second on the team. He ranks third all-time with 12 career assists for Rhode Island FC, and is one of three players with double-figure assists for the Ocean State club.
- Rhode Island FC finished the regular season as the No. 7 seed, and will travel to No. 2 Charleston Battery for the third time in three playoff campaigns.
- Rhode Island FC is 2W-0L at Charleston in its two prior playoff trips, including a penalty-shootout victory in last season’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.
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.
