Stas Korzeniowski debut goal stretches home unbeaten run to nine games
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (Sept. 5, 2026) – Rhode Island FC fought back from an early deficit on Saturday, battling to a 1-1 tie vs. Louisville City FC at Centreville Bank Stadium. Despite giving up an early goal from the penalty spot, Rhode Island FC pelted the Louisville goal with 15 shots, eventually finding an equalizer when Stas Korzenowski leveled the score in his first appearance in front of the home fans.
Rhode Island FC (8W-8L-5T) looked dangerous early, coming closest to the opening goal in the ninth minute when Leo Afonso got on the end of a through ball and cut a pass back to Nick Scardina in the box, who slammed a close-range shot into the side netting. Louisville City FC (9W-8L-6T) got on the board first, however, taking the lead in the 18th minute when Sean Totsch converted a penalty kick into the bottom-left corner.
The hosts responded to the goal with firepower, holding 68 percent of the first-half possession and testing the Louisville back line with six shots. Afonso nearly found the frame in the 42nd minute with a laser from range, but the shot flew past diving LouCity goalkeeper Danny Faundez and just wide of the back post. Two minutes later, Scardina played a long ball into the final third from inside his own half that fell to the feet of Yutaro Tsukada. Tsukada took the ball down with a quick touch into the box, but dragged his right-footed effort just wide of the near post.
Although RIFC could not find the equalizer through the first 45 minutes, it did not take much longer to cash in on its attacking pressure. Just three minutes into the second half, Centreville Bank Stadium’s newest debutant pulled RIFC level. Korzeniowski picked up the ball in the midfield, beginning a crafty passing sequence down the left wing that ended with Jojea Kwizera dribbling into the box. Kwizera cut the ball back to Korzeniowski, who took advantage of a fortunate deflection and chipped the ball over Faundez to knot the game at 1-1.
Energized by the goal, RIFC continued to push and came within inches of the go-ahead goal several times. In the 82nd minute, second-half substitute Osman Foyo tore down the right flank and floated across the top of the box with the ball at his feet, touching it past a pair of defenders before putting a shot on frame that was saved. 14 minutes later, deep into second-half stoppage time, Kwizera came within inches of the winner when he rifled a powerful effort from the top of the box, beating the goalkeeper at full stretch and rattling the far post.
Despite the late surge, and a 15-10 shot deficit throughout the night, RIFC could not find the back of the net for a second time as both sides split the points in an exciting 1-1 tie in Pawtucket.
Up next, RIFC will hit the road for its first-ever trip to Sporting Club Jacksonville on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. on NESN+ and ESPN Select, with the radio broadcast available on 790 The Score. Following the trip down south, RIFC will return to Centreville Bank Stadium to host Miami FC on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. for Portuguese Heritage Night. Tickets to the next home game are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
LOU – Sean Totsch (Penalty Kick), 18th minute: Totsch buries a penalty kick into the bottom-left corner. RI 0, LOU 1
RI – Stas Korzeniowski (Jojea Kwizera), 48th minute: Korzeniowski chips a close-range shot over the keeper. RI 1, LOU 1
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Defender Karifa Yao made his first start since July 18, returning from a six-game injury absence.
- Forward Stas Korzeniowski made his first career start for Rhode Island FC in his second appearance. He scored his first career RIFC goal in the 48th minute.
- Korzenowski is the fourth RIFC player in club history, and the third this season, to score on his debut at Centreville Bank Stadium. Yutaro Tsukada was the last player to do so, scoring the opening goal in RIFC’s 2-0 win vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Aug. 22.
- Jojea Kwizera picked up his third assist of the season across all competitions. He ranks third all-time with 11 career assists for RIFC and is one of three players with double-figure assists for the Ocean State club.
- The result marks the third time this season RIFC has come back from behind to earn a result at home. All three results came against top-five teams in their respective conferences, with two coming against then-conference leaders.
- The tie retains RIFC’s eighth-place playoff position in the Eastern Conference standings with nine games remaining.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Stas Korzeniowski
Game stats and information available here.
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