RIFC Goes for Second Straight Home Win Saturday

Sacramento Republic FC recently capped off a five-game homestand with a 0-0 tie vs. San Antonio FC last weekend, finishing a month-long stay at Heart Health Park with three shutouts. The California club conceded just two goals and scored 10 in front of its home fans. The impressive stint included a pair of dominant back-to-back wins over 2024 Western Conference finalists Las Vegas Lights FC. Sacramento bested Las Vegas 5-0 on May 17 before cruising to a 4-0 win two weeks later in the USL Jägermesiter Cup, extending an unbeaten start at home to eight games. Although Sacramento quickly saw that streak come to an end in a 1-0 loss to FC Tulsa in its outing, the scoreless tie vs. San Antonio helped the club stabilize. Following the lengthy homestand, the club headed to the opposite coast for the first time in 2025, beginning a four-game road trip by taking on Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday before making its first-ever trip to Pawtucket on Saturday. Prior to a last-minute 1-0 loss in Birmingham, the club was unbeaten (0W-0L-2T) against Eastern Conference opposition, playing to a pair of 1-1 draws with Indy Eleven and league-leading Louisville City FC, both at home in Sacramento.

Rhode Island FC’s first-ever win at Centreville Bank Stadium, a 2-1 victory over North Carolina FC, showed a second-half fight the club had yet to showcase in 2025. Maxi Rodriguez’s penalty in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage-time marked the first time the Ocean State club has earned a win after entering halftime in a tied or losing position this season. It was also the first time it has scored a game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time since Albert Dikwa “Chico” did so in a 2-1 win vs. FC Tulsa on Sept. 21, 2024. The historic goal completed the club’s first-ever multi-goal performance at Centreville Bank Stadium, and ended North Carolina’s then-longest active winning streak in the USL Championship (four games). RIFC’s matchup vs. Sacramento is the second of four-straight home games, and is the perfect opportunity to string together momentum at home for the first time.