Rhode Island FC Advances to the 2025 Eastern Conference Final

This marks the new team’s second bid for the championship title in as many years.

15 hours ago

Kaitlyn Murray,

Photo courtesy of Rhode Island FC

Following their 2-0 shut out North Carolina FC, during the USL Championship Eastern Conference Semifinals on Saturday evening, Rhode Island FC is headed to the Eastern Conference Final for the second year in a row.

It’s a pretty impressive feat in and of itself, but even more so when you consider the fact that the Ocean State club made its official debut in 2024 (fun fact: Rhode Island FC is the second team in the USL Championship era to advance to a conference final in both of its first two seasons), and only secured a (beautiful state-of-the-art) home stadium earlier this season. Learn more about the team’s beginnings and Centreville Bank Stadium here.

Photo courtesy of Rhode Island FC

Photo courtesy of Rhode Island FC

And it wasn’t the first upset of the season: RIFC first took down the No. 2 seed, Charleston Battery, in a penalty shootout after a tense 0-0 tie in regulation. This past Saturday’s match initially had local fans on the edge of their seats as the score remained scoreless for the first eighty or so minutes, but then second-half substitute Albert “Chico” Dikwa propelled RIFC into the lead with a close-range header just six minutes into his game play. Not long after, Chico managed to intercept the ball and sink a second goal, knocking the No. 3 seed out of the running and cinching a clear win for the Ocean State club.

“They dug in and won this game. You can look through the schedule. There were multiple times where we had tough games and that just prepares them for these moments. They are prepared,” says head coach Khano Smith in a post-game interview. “They have the scars from last year. They’ve been through the experience from last year. We talk about things happening for us, not happening for us, and not to us. Everything that’s happened in the past prepared them for this moment.”

For the final, RIFC will take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday, November 15, at 6:30 p.m. Unfortunately, fans will not be able to catch the game in person on their home turf as the boys will be traveling t Highmark Stadium in Pennsylvania. But the good news is you can still easily watch the match unfold surrounded by fellow blue-and-yellow clad supporters at the The Guild’s Official Watch Party. You also can tune in at JD’s Bar, Troop, GPub, Thirsty Beaver Pub, Moniker Brewery, Bel Sogno, the Ave Bar and Grill and Koury’s Tavern, or cheer them on from home with NESN+ or ESPN+.