Rhode Island FC defender Nick Scardina reacts following his goal
(Rhode Island FC)

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Rhode Island FC took a massive leap in the Eastern Conference standings on Saturday, moving up to fifth place with a dominant 3-1 win at Brooklyn FC. Goals from Amos Shapiro-Thompson, Karifa Yao and Nick Scardina gave RIFC its second-straight win at a crucial time, putting it within one point of a top-four home playoff spot with four games remaining in the regular season.

It did not take long for Rhode Island FC (11W-10L-5T) to rip the game open, taking the lead in a spectacular style in the 18th minute. After Yutaro Tsukada's free kick was initially headed away by the Brooklyn defense, Shapiro-Thompson intercepted the clearance at the top of the box. The midfielder took the ball down with his back to goal, quickly turning and unleashing a powerful first-time shot that picked out the top-left corner.

Tsukada continued to drive the attack as the half went on, picking up an assist to double the score just four minutes later. This time, his long ball bypassed the Brooklyn backline and found Yao, who snuck into a wide-open position in the box. He sent a header across the face of goal and off the far post, where it dribbled over the line to put RIFC up by two. Yao would continue testing the waters in the attack when he found the back of the net yet again deep into first-half stoppage time, but his first career brace was denied by the offside flag as the half ended 2-0 to the visitors.

The whistle struck again early in the second half, this time denying Brooklyn FC (3W-17L-6T) a goal that would have cut the deficit in half within the first five minutes. Instead, Rhode Island FC put the game firmly out of reach in the 55th minute, converting a rapid counter-attack after winning the ball in the midfield. After Stas Korzeniowski's one-on-one effort was saved by Brooklyn goalkeeper Jackson Lee, Scardina leapt on the rebound, depositing an acrobatic scissor-kick into the open net to increase the deficit to three.

Brooklyn FC did pull one back late, getting on the board in the 85th minute when Malik Pinto carried the ball through the midfield and into the final third. Pinto floated to the top of the box before sending a curling effort on goal, finding the far-side netting with Brooklyn's first and only shot on target of the game to make it 3-1. The goal was not enough to overcome the three-goal deficit, however, as Rhode Island FC left Brooklyn with all three points after a dominant 3-1 win.

Up next, Rhode Island FC will return to Centreville Bank Stadium for its final two home games of the regular season, beginning when it takes on Loudoun United FC Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the Wicked Good Weeknight, featuring $4 beers and $1 kids drinks, are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

RI - Amos Shapiro-Thompson, 18th minute: Shapiro-Thompson finds the top corner with a spectacular long-range effort on the turn. BKN 0, RI 1

RI - Karifa Yao (Yutaro Tsukada), 22nd minute: Yao nods Tsukada's long ball over the goal line. BKN 0, RI 2

RI - Nick Scardina, 55th minute: Scardina pounces on a close-range rebound with an acrobatic finish. BKN 0, RI 3

BKN - Malik Pinto (Callum Frogson), 85th minute: Pinto tucks a long-range shot into the far-side netting. BKN 1, RI 3

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Defender Dani Rovira made his first career regular-season start for Rhode Island FC, and his third career start across all competitions for the club.

Midfielder Amos Shapiro-Thompson scored his first career regular-season goal for Rhode Island FC, and his second career goal for the club across all competitions.

Defender Karifa Yao scored his third career goal for Rhode Island FC, two of which have come in his last four appearances for RIFC.

Defender Nick Scardina scored his third career goal for Rhode Island FC.

Forward Yutaro Tsukada picked up his third career assist for Rhode Island FC. He has two goals and three assists in his first ten appearances for the club.

Seven of RIFC's last ten goals have included contributions from mid-season acquisitions Yutaro Tsukada, Osman Foyo and Stas Korzeniwoski.

Three of Rhode Island FC's last eight games have featured three different goalscorers.

Rhode Island FC held Brooklyn FC without a single shot on target for 85 minutes, finishing a game with one or fewer shots on target faced for the seventh time in the 2026 regular season.

RIFC is 4W-1L-3T all-time in the month of October.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Amos Shapiro-Thompson

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