The Prematch Lookout: FC Tulsa vs Rhode Island FC - 8/29/2026

Rhode Island FC hit the road and are heading to Oklahoma to take on FC Tulsa Saturday night. The two teams have only met once previously, which was back in September 2024 in RIFC's inaugural season. It was a comeback win for RIFC, who went down 1-0 early but got second half goals from Noah Fuson and Albert Dikwa (whose goal came in second half stoppage time) to secure a 2-1 win at Beirne Stadium. As for this upcoming game, here's what to look out for:

Last Time Out

Last weekend, RIFC came away with a 3-1 home win against Monterey Bay. It was the team's first game without JJ Williams, who has since moved to Heart of Midlothian in Scotland. Leo Afonso started up top and got an early goal while Hugo Bacharach and Grant Stoneman each scored in the second half to earn RIFC all three points. It was great to see the team responding well to no longer having JJ leading the line but it needs to be said that Monterey Bay are one of the worst teams in the league. This weekend should be provide a different challenge.

Players to Watch

Hugo Bacharach (MF)

• Hugo has arguably been RIFC's best player this season. You could point to some of the attacking players, namely JJ and Jojea, but for me Hugo has been just as important. Maybe more. I love a good defensive midfielder and Hugo has been fantastic in that role. His height allows him to win in the air and break up play. He's started to contribute in the attack too with winning headers from set pieces. RIFC will need Hugo to continue being at the top of his game

Osman Foyo (FW)

• Foyo made his RIFC debut in a 10 minute cameo last weekend. He looked really promising in the brief appearance and I'm excited to see more of him on Saturday

Stas Korzeniowski (FW)

• Stas was just announced as a loan signing from Philadelphia Union II. There's every chance he isn't in the squad for Tulsa and makes his debut at Tidewater against Louisville the following weekend. But I'm mentioning him here anyway, as I typically do when RIFC have a new signing. He looks like the perfect temporary replacement for JJ Williams with his size and goal-scoring ability

Storyline

Playing Without JJ Against Better Competition

As I mentioned earlier, RIFC played their first game since JJ's move to Scotland last weekend at home against Monterey Bay. There's been a lot of focus on that move but it's for good reason. JJ was the focal point of this team's attack. Everything ran through him up front. I can't think of a better game than Monterey Bay at home to have as your first one post-JJ. But now the team has to continue to adapt in what will surely be a much tougher game. Not only are they out on the road but it's against a very good FC Tulsa team (as we'll soon see). I'm looking forward to seeing how the team handle the test.

Last Time Out

FC Tulsa crushed Orange County SC 5-1 away last Saturday. A Quimi Ordóñez hat trick along with goals from Delentz Pierre and Logan Dorsey secured the dominant win. Chris Hegardt scored early in the second half for Orange County to bring it to 2-1 but Ordóñez got his third goal in the 55th minute before Pierre and Dorsey made it 5 for Tulsa.

Players to Watch

Jamie Webber (MF)

• Webber signed for Tulsa in April of last year from the South African top division. He finished that season with 4 goals and 5 assists in the league and has 3 goals and 4 assists this year. He's been one of the best midfielders in the league this season and winning the battle against him in midfield will be crucial for RIFC

Arquimides "Quimi" Ordóñez (FW)

• Quimi only arrived in Tulsa last month after spending time with Loudoun United. His three goals last weekend were his first with his new team and Tulsa will be hoping it's a sign of things to come

Logan Dorsey (FW)

• Logan Dorsey is a name that should be very familiar to RIFC fans. He started this season in Rhode Island on loan from Minnesota United. However, he was recalled in early June and immediately loaned back out to FC Tulsa. By all accounts it was a decision Dorsey made in tandem with his parent club in order to get more minutes. He's now played in the same number of games for each team in all competitions (12) but has gotten more minutes in Tulsa. In those games, he's doubled his goal tally from 2 with RIFC to 4 with Tulsa

Storyline

Pushing Towards the Top of the West

FC Tulsa currently sit fourth in the Western Conference with 32 points from 20 games. They're 5 points behind El Paso and New Mexico at the top of the standings but have played two less games than El Paso and one more then New Mexico. So needless to say, a lot can change quickly. Tulsa will be hoping their big win last weekend can help propel them forward and put them firmly in the race for first in the West.

Prediction

Rhode Island FC 2-1 FC Tulsa

I was going to go with a 2-2 but I feel like I go with that score too often. Plus it's a safe prediction to make. So I'm giving RIFC the slight edge here with a 2-1. Tulsa may have broken out with 5 goals last week but before that they had only scored 2 goals in 5 games and none in the last two. So while I don't see a clean sheet for RIFC, I would be surprised if Tulsa had a big scoring outburst for a second week in a row. RIFC's attack looked very fluid last time out and I think despite playing a much better opponent, they'll continue to create good chances and hopefully put a couple away.

As always, I'll be back here right after the game with the Riptide Report. The postmatch podcast and player ratings will follow on Sunday. Until next time, UP THE TIDE!