RIFC are back at Centreville Bank Stadium this weekend to take on Las Vegas Lights in a rare Sunday evening game.  It’s the first of back to back home games for RIFC that mark the end of their year at Tidewater Landing (barring some playoff miracle).  And with just 4 games remaining in the 2025 season, results seem more important than ever.  So let’s take a look at what to expect in yet another crucial match for RIFC.

RIFC come into this one sitting 9th in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Indy Eleven in 8th.  This is due to the team drawing in El Paso last time out while Indy Eleven got the 3 points against Western Conference leading FC Tulsa last weekend.  7th place Detroit City FC are also a point ahead of RIFC, setting up what looks like a three team race for the final two playoff spots.  Both Indy Eleven and Detroit City play on Saturday, meaning RIFC will know where things stand before kickoff on Sunday.

Availability

For me, the big question coming into this one is whether we see Amos Shapiro-Thompson or Maxi Rodriguez back in the matchday squad.  Both have missed the last two games.  Amos limped off the field in the 2nd half of his last appearance against Indy Eleven.  And based on some social media posts from both the team and himself, Maxi seems to have suffered a concussion in training but has returned to the field ahead of this game (none of that is actually confirmed, just some simple social media sleuthing).  While RIFC have midfield depth, I think they’re missing the qualities that Amos and Maxi bring when they’re out there.  Hopefully we see at least one of them on Sunday.

The Big Question

Is RIFC’S attack finally getting on track?

RIFC have recorded 4 goals in their last 3 games.  Sure, one was an own goal from Indy Eleven, another a penalty, and a third from a goalkeeping error.  But 4 goals are 4 goals.  The team hadn’t scored 4 in a three game stretch in the league since May.  That was when they drew Monterey Bay 1-1 and beat Birmingham and Tampa Bay 1-0 and 3-0, respectively.  Despite the nature of their recent goals, I do think RIFC have looked better going forward lately, particularly last time out in El Paso.  It’s up to the boys in Amber and Blue though to show that it wasn’t just a one-off.  They’ll have a chance to do so against a Las Vegas side that has conceded the 6th most goals in the league this season.  However, goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena has kept 10 clean sheets this year.  So it really could go either way.

Las Vegas enter this one dead last in the Western Conference.  They’re 6 points behind Colorado Springs in 8th and with 4 games left, it feels like their season is likely over.  Looking at the team’s results as a whole, it’s really these two horrific 4 game stretches in the league that stand out:

Those results pretty much speak for themselves.

Coaching Carousel

Las Vegas are on their third coach of 2025.  The first set of results from above were the final nail in the coffin on head coach Antonio Nocerino’s tenure, as he was let go just days after the loss to San Antonio.  Nocerino is perhaps most known for his playing career in Serie A.  In the USL, he’s known for being in charge of arguably the worst side in league history, 2024 Miami FC.  It seemed like a strange appointment from the outset and it proved to be a poor choice.

Interim manager Giovanni Troise was in charge during the 2nd stretch of horrendous results.  He was replaced by Devin Rensing, who took charge of his first game on August 9th against San Antonio.  Rensing had been an assistant with the Charleston Battery for the past 3 years.  In his 8 games in charge so far, Las Vegas have won 1, drawn 4, and lost 3. 

The Big Question

Will Raiko Arozarena and Johnny Rodriguez step up?

I already mentioned Arozarena in the RIFC section but it bears repeating that he has 10 clean sheets this season.  That’s 2nd most in the league behind Sacramento’s Danny Vitiello (11).  He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the league despite his team’s poor defensive record.  He has every chance of being a big difference maker and thorn in RIFC’S side on Sunday.

On the other end of the field, it’s Johnny Rodriguez that is key for Vegas.  Rodriguez spent the last 4 seasons with Oakland Roots and led them in goals and goal contributions in 2023 and 2024.  Needless to say, he was a pretty big signing for a Las Vegas team that finished 4th in the Western Conference and made the conference final last season.  This year, he’s been below his pace from the past two seasons with 8 goals in 2025 compared to 12 in each of the last two years.  Still, he’s Las Vegas’ biggest attacking threat and will be the one to watch for Vegas going forward on Sunday.

I have RIFC getting the crucial 3 points on Sunday.  I think Arozarena will have a good game and thwart some RIFC chances but in the end, RIFC will get their goal and Koke Vegas will keep a clean sheet for the good guys.

Up Next

I will be back here as always right after game with the Riptide Report.  We will also have the postmatch pod and player ratings to follow.  UP THE TIDE!