Rhode Island FC Defeats Rival Hartford Athletic in U.S. Open Cup

RIFC scores two goals off corner kicks to take down Hartford in cup competition

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:54am

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Rhode Island FC defeated their regional rival Hartford Athletic in the U.S. Open Cup, breaking their trend of scoring primarily from set pieces. RIFC manager Khano Smith praised his team's execution of the game plan, noting that scoring two goals off corner kicks was a positive outcome.

Why it matters

The U.S. Open Cup is a prestigious national soccer tournament that pits professional and amateur clubs against each other. This victory over a regional rival demonstrates RIFC's ability to compete at a high level and could boost their profile and fan support in the local community.

The details

In the match played in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, RIFC was able to score two goals directly from corner kick situations, a departure from their usual scoring patterns. This tactical shift proved effective in securing the win over Hartford Athletic, a fellow club in the regional soccer landscape.

  • The match took place on April 2, 2026.

The players

Khano Smith

The manager of Rhode Island FC who praised his team's execution and set-piece scoring in the victory.

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What they’re saying

“I thought the guys executed the game plan to a high standard, and to score two set pieces was nice,”

— Khano Smith, RIFC Manager

What’s next

RIFC will look to build on this cup victory as they continue their regular season campaign in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This win over a regional rival in a prestigious national tournament demonstrates RIFC's ability to compete at a high level and could help grow their fanbase and profile in the local community.