Rhode Island won their third consecutive match with a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night. While the 3-1 scoreline was not quite enough to earn the tiebreaker over Tampa, it does bring RIFC level with Tampa Bay on 46 points (though Tampa has one game in hand).

The win keeps the dream of hosting a home playoff game alive – on life support, but alive. Rhode Island would need to secure at least one more point in their remaining three games than Tampa gets from their remaining four.

• Listen to Ryan and Matt break down the match in the Tide Talk match reaction pod.
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Here are my player ratings for Rhode Island FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

Koke Vegas (GK) – 6/10

Koke made some crucial, difficult saves throughout this nervy game, including a diving save on a set piece to keep Rhode Island in the lead at the end of the first half. He also got a glove on a couple of lethal-looking crosses from Tampa Bay.

His distribution was a bit suspect. His 40% accuracy on long ball distribution wasn’t far off his season average, but at least a few of these went sailing straight out of bounds.

Grant Stoneman (D) – 5/10

Stoneman had a strong game but was also part of the breakdown leading to the Tampa Bay Rowdies goal. You can see in the replay (above) that Stoneman steps up to put pressure on the driving Tampa Bay midfielder, leaving their streaking forward open to receive a through ball and be in on goal.

I’ve watched it again, and again, and again – and on the 20th time I’ve finally come to the decision that Stoneman really did have to step up in this situation – Doyle was a few steps behind on the back check, and Nodarse was (out of frame) covering the wide man on the left.

Karifa Yao (D) – 6/10

Yao was tied with Ybarra for a team-high 10 defensive actions – but also made contributions that are not tracked, such as blocking off his man and ushering the ball out of play during Tampa Bay attacking moves multiple times.

On the Tampa Bay goal, the more I’ve watched, the more I feel that Yao needed to cover for Stoneman after he stepped up. He was trying to stay central, but it was unnecessary because there was no one else from Tampa making a run. Yao was late to rotate but made a decent recovery run and block attempt on the Tampa Bay goal. He was ultimately beaten by a very smooth first touch.

Frank Nodarse (D) – 6/10

Tampa had 57% of the ball in this match, but the RI defense helped to limit the quality and quantity of attacking opportunities – and Frank was a big part of that. He led all players with five ball clearances out of dangerous areas.

Zachary Herivaux (MF) – 6/10

Herivaux opened up the scoring in the 21st minute when he applied pressure on Tampa Bay’s goalkeeper, his old friend Jordan Farr, resulting in a deflected pass into the back of the net. Herivaux gets a lot of credit from me for the hustle play – and this wouldn’t be the last goal of the night to come from RIFC’s pressing efforts.

Besides the goal – which was an enormous contribution and a key moment in our season – Herivaux’s game was pedestrian compared to his other performances since coming back from injury. He was dispossessed five times, and won just four out of 14 total duels. Because Herivaux was playing a more progressive position in the midfield, his pass accuracy also dropped to 67% – nearly 20% lower than his season average.

Marc Ybarra (MF) – 7/10

Ybarra was one of Rhode Island’s most important players on both ends of the pitch. He led the team with 10 defensive actions including four ball recoveries and three successful tackles.

Ybarra was also tied for a game-high three chances created – partially thanks to his taking all five of RIFC’s corners, in addition to set pieces, with Kwizera out due to yellow card accumulation and Jack Panayotou on the bench. He also helped to create a great chance for Stephen Turnbull in the 54th minute with a clever scooped pass.

Clay Holstad (MF) – 6/10

Holstad continues to thrive with the new-look midfield trio of himself, Herivaux, and Ybarra. With Herivaux playing in the more progressive role, Clay returned to his usual statistical self, tied for a game-high two interceptions, and leading all outfield players with six ball recoveries. Off the ball, Clay’s pressing was impressive in this match as well.

Clay was also characteristically ready and willing to jump into the attack whenever possible. It was great to see him show his speed a couple of times on the counter attack. He broke up a Tampa counter attack in the 78th minute with a tactical foul, which earned him a yellow card.

Stephen Turnbull (MF) – 5/10

Most of the action in this match seemed to run up and down the left flank, so Turnbull was not super involved. He only had 33 touches in the game, but his best sequence came in the 54th minute as he and Marc Ybarra linked up inside the 18-yard box. The Tampa Bay keeper made a good save on the point blank shot from Turnbull.

Turnbull has found himself in this exact position – and scored from it – several times already this season. The Tampa Bay keeper made a nice save to keep this one out, but I always appreciate Turnbull for getting in that spot.

Noah Fuson (MF) – 7/10

Fuson added a goal and an assist tonight, giving him two goals and three assists in his last three games. First, he had another curling “shot” from the edge of the box, much like his goal against Tulsa two weeks ago – that went in. He followed that up with a beautiful through ball to JJ Williams to go up 3-1 and close out the game. With nine assists on the season, he now has the lead for this year’s USL Golden Playmaker award.

Unfortunately, after the match, Coach Khano announced that the team’s appeal around Noah Fuson’s suspension from last week’s match was unsuccessful. Noah will miss next weeks match against Loudoun, along with Jojea Kwizera who will be on international duty with the Rwandan national team.

Coach said it best in his ~5 minute rant directed at the league for their appalling decision to uphold Noah’s suspension for next week:

JJ Williams (F) – 7/10

JJ’s minutes have been ramping up throughout September, and now he’s completed his first full 90 since August 7 – and arguably his best game in a Rhode Island shirt. Whether it was form or fitness that kept him from going 90 minutes sooner, he is finding both at the right time of the year.

By the numbers, Williams created three chances and led all players with 11 touches in the opposition box. He was involved in 10 aerial duels – four more than the next highest players – and winning half of them, which is exactly the stat we’ve come to associate with JJ.

Finally, and most importantly, JJ flicked on the ball that Noah would score for the 69th minute RIFC goal, and scored a goal of his own with a lethal, precise striker’s finish using the outside of his boot to put the game to bed in the 85th minute.

The yellow card wasn’t his finest moment, as it was a bit of a frustration foul after the whistle. On the other hand, the Tampa Bay player absolutely sold it.

Albert Dikwa (F) – 6/10

The Dikwa and JJ strike partnership looked refreshed at the start of the match. The pair was linking up well and created a handful of chances for each other in the first half. Dikwa continued the recent trend of dropping deeper, and moving on to the wings, and looking to distribute for his teammates.

Unfortunately, Dikwa left the game late in the first half after suffering an apparent hip injury. Here’s hoping it was mostly a precautionary substitution, and that Dikwa won’t have to miss any time.

Subs

Mark Doyle (F) (37th minute) – 5/10

Doyle had some moments in this match, but overall I’ve still not seen enough from him. He didn’t do much explicitly wrong, but I thought that the threat coming from RIFC’s forwards dropped off after Dikwa’s substitution. JJ and Dikwa have better chemistry and link up better as a pair.

Morris Duggan (D) (66th minute) –5/10

Duggan looked solid in his first appearance since September 7th. It was nice to see him back on the pitch, even if deployed slightly out of position as more of a defensive left wingback than his usual central position.

Joe Brito (MF) (84th minute) – 6/10

Joe Brito made a huge impact in his brief appearance in this match. He immediately came on and upped the pressing intensity, and it yielded results almost immediately as Brito initiated the press that led to the third RIFC goal.

For reference, my rating scale is as follows:

• 1/10 – Abysmal. You might as well have me on the pitch.
• 2/10 – Very bad
• 3/10 – Bad
• 4/10 – Below Average
• 5/10 – Average. The player didn’t necessarily stand out, but did their job.
• 6/10 – Good
• 7/10 – Very good
• 8/10 – Great
• 9/10 – Outstanding
• 10/10 – Transcendent performance. Watch out, because Real Madrid may come knocking.