Rhode Island FC have now scored seven goals in their last two league matches, as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Charleston Battery on Wednesday night.
Charleston certainly looked the more threatening side in the first half, as Rhode Island failed to create many chances – but came out in the second half and were threatening and clinical with their chances. That’s something we haven’t often said about this team over the last year.
All of a sudden, Rhode Island FC have won two league games on the bounce for the first time this season.
After a rocky start, they find themselves in a run of good form – going five games consecutive games across all competitions unbeaten in regular time (sure – I’m jumping through some hoops to get the Revs game to fit in here… but most Rhode Island fans would agree that was a moral victory).
While Rhode Island are technically still outside of the playoff picture (with a game in hand), they are now just three points out of third place in the Eastern Conference.
Click below if you’re interested in seeing 2026 player historical ratings.
Rhode Island FC Player Ratings:
Koke Vegas (GK) – 7/10
Not an incredibly active night between the sticks for Koke, but he was ready when called upon to maintain the clean sheet. More importantly… Koke was credited with the assist on our third goal of the night, for a long ball that leaked between two Charleston defenders and JJ did well to finish.
You don’t see a goalkeeper assist every day… but if you were to pick a keeper to get one, it’d have to be Koke.
Aldair Sanchez (D) – 5/10
Solid but unremarkable performance from Aldair (remember, folks – 5 is average here). He’s worked himself all the way back from the semi-shadow realm in Summer of last season to now being one of the most nailed-on names on the team sheet. Incredibly reliable and hard working going both ways as a left back.
Hamady Diop (D) – 7/10
Not only was Diop good defensively, but also crucial to our build up play – especially in the second half – with his incisive, line-breaking passes. They don’t always come off, but when they do, it often springs a promising attacking move for Rhode Island.
Diop had a crucial double-block sequence in the second half to help preserve the clean sheet for Rhode Island.
Karifa Yao (D) – 7/10
Yao was the more active defender out of the center back pairing, as he led the team with 10 defensive clearances. The defensive unit kept composure and did very well to limit a dangerous Charleston team to just two shots on target.
Frank Nodarse (D) – 6/10
Nodarse continued his run of solid defensive play and had some good battles to keep RIFC-alum Nathan Messer fairly quiet – while also providing cover and overlapping runs for Jojea Kwizera. One of Frank’s brightest moments of the night was his cross, in first half stoppage time, which nearly opened the scoring for Rhode Island.
Clay Holstad (MF) – 6/10
It was a bit of a frustrating night for Clay progressing the ball and going forward, but he was characteristically good at recovering and recycling the ball as needed. He also plays the most accurate long ball out of our defensive third – including setting up Frank to make a cross for the chance at the end of the first half.
Clay also does incredibly well to get a toe to the ball in the six-yard box to draw a penalty on Charleston, leading to our fourth goal of the evening.
Hugo Bacharach (MF) – 7/10
Hugo was crucial in breaking up play during the first half when Charleston was really stretching our defense to the limit. Numerous times Hugo cut out a pass and even intervened in the box on occasion to limit Charleston.
While Hugo’s ball carrying and ball progression also haven’t quite reached the same heights yet as last year, his defensive play has been great.
Pity Rodriguez (MF) – 6/10
While I’d still like to see Pity on the ball more often, he was very effective when he did have it tonight. Pity led the team with three chances created, one of which was a well-placed through ball and assist on our third goal, scored by Jojea Kwizera. A few minutes before that, he played a pin-point tricky through-ball for Leo Afonso that arguably should have led to another goal.
The moments may come in brief flashes, but Pity seems very reliably good at creating a couple of very dangerous chances per game.
Leo Afonso (F) – 4/10
Leo may be the biggest victim of our change in formation to a back-four, as he’s now being asked to play as more of a wide forward/winger rather than a second striker off of JJ. So far, the role has not looked to quite suit him.
He had the fewest touches of all Rhode Island starters (28), completed just one out of six attempted dribbles, and won only five out of 13 ground duels (38%).
JJ Williams (F) – 8/10
What a night for JJ Williams. After a thankless first half, he had a great chance (which required a great save) to close out the first half. He picked up the second half right where he left off, scoring a relatively easy headed chance off of a “deflected” ball in from Jojea Kwizera to open the scoring in the 51st minute.
He scored again with some shifty, technical dribbling in the Charleston box before clinically smashing home a ball into the top left corner.
Then, in one of the most selfless acts I’ve ever seen from a career goal-scorer, he “allows” Dwayne Atkinson to take the penalty kick… instead of going for his hat trick? It seemed a bit weird to me – and maybe a bit weird to Khano too based on his reactions (and post-match press conference, where he confirmed that JJ is above Busy in the PK pecking order) – but if JJ is happy, I’m happy.
Jojea Kwizera (F) – 7/10
After the first half, there may have been some light Kwizera slander coming out of section 205. He was getting into good positions, but often taking one too many touches, or a second too slow to make his next move.
Then, in the second half, he absolutely silenced us. First, he sets up JJ’s first goal with a cross from around the corner of the 18-yard box. 10 minutes later, he finishes clinically with a low shot on a great chance – set up by Pity Rodriguez – to go up 2-0.
Kwizera has now scored three goals in five matches in 2026… compared to just one goal, and one assist in 27 matches last season.
Subs
Grant Stoneman – 6/10
Grant came on to replace a hobbled Hamady Diop and to help us hunker down and see out the game. Mission absolutely accomplished – racking up six defensive contributions in just 20 minutes of work.
Noah Fuson – N/A
Zach Herivaux – N/A
Not much to say on the performance, but feels absolutely crucial to have Zach back as an option in the midfield.
Dwayne Atkinson – 6/10
While I mentioned that it felt a bit weird for Dwayne to take the PK – given this team’s penalty woes, I’m happy to see any player hit the back of the net with one at this point.
Rating Scale:
- 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 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.
Tide Talk 
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