> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://tidetalkri.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Riptide Report: Hartford Athletic vs Rhode Island FC - 10/24/2026 - URL: https://tidetalkri.com/the-riptide-report-hartford-athletic-vs-rhode-island-fc-10-24-2026/ - Published: 2026-10-25T01:28:28.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T01:28:28.000Z - Author: Matt Hands - Tags: Blog, Hartford Athletic, The Riptide Report Rhode Island FC ended the regular season on a low by losing 2-1 at Hartford tonight. Karifa Yao put RIFC ahead 1-0 in the first half but Hartford scored in the 68th and 78th minutes to complete the comeback. Not the way you want to be heading into the playoffs, but more on that soon. First, here are my quick thoughts on an awful night in Connecticut: ## **Two Changes** Khano made two changes to the starting 11 from last weekend. Amos Shapiro-Thompson and Stas Korzeniowski came back in for Noah Fuson and Leo Afonso. The interesting move here was keeping Zach Herivaux in the starting 11 with Hugo and Amos. My feeling is that this was done in preparation for the playoffs on Friday. I could easily see Khano sticking with an extra midfielder instead of an attacking player like Leo or Noah. I think it's probably a good idea for the playoffs but it wasn't needed for an opponent like Hartford. ## **Karifa's Backside** I've always maintained that they all count. No matter how a ball goes in, as long as it's legal it's good. And we got a pretty funny one in the first half to put us up 1-0: > Have you ever seen a finish like that? 🤯 [#WickedGoodGoal](https://x.com/hashtag/WickedGoodGoal?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=tidetalkri.com) | [@capellisport](https://x.com/capellisport?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=tidetalkri.com) [pic.twitter.com/qBVQGSKACI](https://t.co/qBVQGSKACI?ref=tidetalkri.com) > > — Rhode Island FC (@RhodeIslandFC) [October 24, 2026](https://x.com/RhodeIslandFC/status/2114141437415534846?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=tidetalkri.com) It was a good delivery from Jojea but really this goal was all on poor goalkeeping from Siaha. He was caught in no man's land and allowed it to get through to Karifa to push it in off his backside. Always great seeing a Siaha look foolish. ## **Second Half Collapse** This is where the positive part of the blog ends. That was absolutely embarrassing. You have to be able to hold a lead in a big game like this. On Hartford's first goal, Sadat Anaku was completely unmarked in the box and was able to head the ball past Koke. How can you let that happen? RIFC have a massive height advantage and yet you still get beat on a header. Unacceptable. Then, you let a ball roll through the box for Emmanuel Samadia to rifle into the back of the net. And going forward, there were zero ideas from the attack. Everything felt disjointed and it never looked like RIFC were going to get an equalizer. Unbelievably poor. ## **What's Next?** The loss means RIFC finish 7th for the second consecutive season. And for the second straight year. Hartford Athletic finish above RIFC. Take a second to let that settle in: Hartford have been better over the course 30 regular season games two years in a row. We like to talk about how much Hartford sucks but outside of playoff performance, they're better than us right now. They also have a trophy, having won the USL Cup last year. It just is what it is. As a consequence of finishing 7th, we get to play the 2 seed who ended up being the Charleston Battery after they beat Indy Eleven and Detroit City FC drew at Louisville. Those two results I got right in the Prematch Lookout but I thought RIFC would at least get a draw and end up going to Detroit. We can debate which would be the better matchup but RIFC lost at both places this season already so it's really a moot point. --- The podcast and player ratings will be here tomorrow. We can all languish together over how poor of a performance this was. I'll be back here on Thursday to preview the 1st round playoff match at Charleston. Until then, despite my current anger, UP THE TIDE!