Pawtucket, R.I. — Rhode Island FC closed its Prinx Tires USL Cup night with a dramatic finish Saturday, prevailing 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Brooklyn FC at Centreville Bank Stadium.
Goalkeeper becomes hero
The decisive moment came when RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas not only stopped a penalty attempt during the shootout but then stepped up and buried the winning spot kick to lift the Ocean State club. The match had become knotted 1-1 after regulation following a second-half free kick by Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. that canceled out Agustín “Pity” Rodríguez’s first goal for Rhode Island.
How the game unfolded
The contest began quietly until both sides produced bursts of action in the first half. Brooklyn threatened early when Pierre Da Silva raced from his own half and forced a save from Vegas. Rhode Island answered in the 19th minute when Jojea Kwizera drove down the right flank and put a dangerous ball across goal that Pity finished at the back post for his inaugural RIFC strike.
Rhode Island nearly extended the lead on multiple occasions. In the 27th minute, Noah Fuson worked the counter and found Leo (Leonardo) Afonso, whose power shot sailed over the bar. Minutes later Afonso came close again, striking a volley that rebounded off the woodwork.
Despite an early shot deficit, Brooklyn drew level deep into first-half stoppage time. Obregón curled a free kick into the top-right corner, beating a diving Vegas to make it 1-1 as the half ended.
Second half pressure and a red card
The second half saw Brooklyn press, and Rhode Island was reduced to 10 men when defender Frank Nodarse received a second yellow card in the 50th minute. Brooklyn pushed to take the lead, forcing saves from Vegas and winning set-piece chances, but neither side found a winner in regulation.
After the 90 minutes, the match proceeded to penalties. The shootout concluded with Rhode Island converting four spot kicks to Brooklyn’s three — the final conversion coming from Vegas himself after making a key save.
- Final score (regulation): Rhode Island FC 1, Brooklyn FC 1
- Shootout: Rhode Island FC 4, Brooklyn FC 3
- RIFC goal: Agustín “Pity” Rodríguez (19') — first RIFC goal
- Brooklyn goal: Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. (first-half stoppage) — free kick
- Notable: Koke Vegas saved a penalty in the shootout and converted the winning kick; Frank Nodarse received a red card (second yellow)
| Team | Regulation Score | Shootout | Key Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island FC | 1 | 4 | Pity Rodríguez |
| Brooklyn FC | 1 | 3 | Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. |
For Rhode Island fans, the result is an encouraging sign of resilience: the team responded to pressure, created chances through wide play and counterattacks, and relied on its goalkeeper at a critical moment. The victory gives RIFC a highlight moment in their 2026 USL Cup campaign and a memorable night for supporters at Centreville Bank Stadium.
Brooklyn leaves Pawtucket with a hard-fought draw on the night but will be eliminated from this stage of the competition after the shootout loss. For Rhode Island, the win is an example of the fine margins that decide cup ties and a demonstration of how special teams and goalkeeping can determine outcomes in knockout formats.
Reporting from Centreville Bank Stadium, this result is part of a wider pattern in the region’s lower-division soccer scene where closely contested matches and penalty drama have become common in the cup calendar.
