Despite a loss to Hartford Atletic, Rhode Island FC still emerges a winner. Here's why

PAWTUCKET — Hartford Athletic goalkeeper Antony Siaha paraded across the Centreville Bank Stadium field shushing the crowd after penalty kicks, but it wasn’t all bad for the home team.

Per Jäegermeister Cup rules, if the game is tied by the end of regulation, it goes to a best-of-5 penalty shootout. Rhode Island FC (3-0-1) lost the penalty shootout 4-3 on July 26, and Siaha and company went home happy even though RIFC clinched the Jäegermeister Cup group.

After last week's scoreless draw between the teams, manager Khano Smith said the fans would let Hartford Athletic goalkeeper Siaha hear it after his late-game antics. Siaha surrendered two goals and fans did their job.

Smith was at Centreville Bank Stadium, but not allowed to coach due to his ejection in the cup game against Portland Hearts of Pines in June. Assistant Dave McKay took his spot again. 

The rivalry between the two teams was evident early on, as stoppages and harsh play helped the teams combine for 19 fouls in the first half. 

“We like playing against them. We enjoy it. And last year, we got the better of them,” McKay said. “This year, they're a much better team than they were last year, despite where they are in the standings.” 

That bad blood took another turn in the 28th minute, when Hartford Athletic’s Beverly Makangila was hit with his second yellow card of the game on a trip. That drew the subsequent red flag, leaving the matchup 11 versus 10 for the rest of the way.

With many breaks in action, both teams failed to create chances early on. As Rhode Island FC had struggled to score in recent games, it seemed Saturday’s game was headed the same way. 

The game neared halftime scoreless, but with the extra time generated by the stoppages, Hartford defender TJ Presthus put one in off a corner from defender Joseph Farrell to go into halftime up a goal.

“We conceded on corner,” McKay said. “Which we’re never pleased with.” 

Presthus' goal seemingly ignited RIFC’s struggling offense. In the 49th minute, Amos Shapiro-Thompson struck one into the back of the net — his first goal with Rhode Island — tying the game at one. 

“It  feels incredible,” Shapiro-Thompson said. “I fought so hard through so many things … whether it was last year, being out the whole year with injury, even in college, feeling like I might never get a chance professionally, with the ACL, the ankle, all that stuff, so that all that kind of journey really adds to how meaningful it is.” 

With the game knotted and the New England rivals trying to get one in the net, the 7,242 fans in attendance let Hartford hear it. That stadium hit another level when Siaha was yellow-carded in the 78th minute and a penalty kick was awarded. It put the ball at the foot of RIFC midfielder Maxi Rodriguez and he delivered, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Hartford answered quickly to silence the crowd, as Adrián Diz knocked one in during the 83rd minute to knot it back up. 

The game entered full time and fans began to parade out of Centreville Bank Stadium. It seemed like another draw, but then they were told to sit back down. It was time for a penalty shootout.

The teams remained even in the early part of the shootout, but a miss off the crossbar by RIFC midfielder Marc Ybarra gave Hartford life. Hartford responded by converting goal after goal, which meant it was up to defender Aldair Sanchez to send Hartford home with a loss.

Sanchez slowed his pace and struck, missing the net. That’s when Siaha gave fans deja-vu of the week before, despite Rhode Island FC ultimately winning in the bigger picture.

“The positive is we've achieved what we want to do to achieve top of the group,” McKay said. “The manner in which it came, we’re not overly pleased with and we know that we have to improve.” 

What is the Jäegermeister Cup

The Jäegermeister Cup is an interleague tournament between USL Championship and USL League One.

It started with six groups in the tournament, totaling 38 teams. Each team played two home and two away games up until the end of the group stage, which was Saturday. Knockout stages will start Aug. 20 and the remaining teams will play in the final on Oct. 4.

Where does RIFC stand in the Jäegermeister Cup? 

Despite the shootout loss, RIFC clinched group four of the Jäegermeister Cup.

In the final cup standings, Rhode Island moves to 10 points and will advance to the host the quarterfinals in August.  

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RIFC still falls to Hartford, but wins Group 4 of Jäegermeister Cup