(Oct. 17, 2026) — Eliot Goldthorp scored the tying goal in the final seconds of the match, which allowed the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to come away with a 1-1 draw against Rhode Island FC tonight at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.
Nico Campuzano stopped a Leo Afonso penalty kick that kept the Hounds (12-11-6) within striking distance even after Osman Foyo put Rhode Island (12-11-6) in front in the second half.
The draw reduces Hounds’ chance to host the opening round of the USL Championship, but they still could grab the No. 4 seed with a win and two Louisville losses in the final week of the season. The result does ensure they will be no lower than the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
First half
With last year’s Eastern Conference finalists both harboring hopes of a top-four finish, the start was predictably cagey with the Hounds getting the game’s first shot on an Owen Mikoy header set up by a free kick in the 12th minute.
The hosts then got on the front foot in the first half, but they were unable to test Campuzano until after the half-hour mark.
The Hounds goalkeeper made five total saves in the match, and his biggest of the first half denied Afonso in the 41st minute. A Rhode Island pass took an odd deflection inside the box, and the ball came to Afonso with space in front of him, 15 yards from goal. He took the shot on his first touch, but Campuzano got on the ground quickly and made the stop holding the ball.
Second half
Charles Ahl, last week’s match winner, had a chance in the 52nd minutes after Sam Bassett hit a cross that carried all the way from the right side to the back post. Ahl had space to take a touch inside, but his shot on his second touch drifted across goal and wide of the right post.
Three minutes later, Rhode Island was handed its chance from the penalty spot after Danny Griffin chested the ball defending the box, but contact from Hugo Bacharach caused the Hounds captain to hit the ball with his arm. Afonso stepped up to take the spot kick, but Campuzano dove to his left to deny the shot, and Mikoy poked the rebound behind before Foyo could get to the rebound.
Foyo capitalized when he did get his opportunity in the 74th minute. The English forward spun toward goal from outside the right side of the box, and his low, left-footed shot across goal found its way in to put the home side ahead.
The Hounds seemed headed for their third straight defeat away from home but had one last push forward as stoppage time reached the end of the announced four minutes. Perrin Barnes hit the ball into the box from the right side, and Jackson Walti rose to flick the ball deeper into the box with his head.
Goldthorp was able to control the ball with his back to goal, and he hit a turning shot falling away from goal that found its way into the bottom right corner of the net. It was the fourth goal of the season for Goldthorp and his first since scoring the game winner Aug. 1 at Oakland.
Modelo Man of the Match
Nico Campuzano kept the Hounds in position to get a result with his five saves, none bigger than his first penalty save as a member of the Hounds. His effort was a big reason Rhode Island was held to one goal despite 18 total shots and a 2.12 expected goals (xG), according to Opta.
What’s next?
The Hounds wrap up their regular season hosting Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday, Oct. 24 at F.N.B. Stadium. The Legion (5-11-11) have already been eliminated from playoff contention, but they did get an early season win over the Hounds, 1-0, back on April 12.
Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Nico Campuzano; Illal Osumanu (Beto Ydrach 81’), Owen Mikoy, Victor Souza, Perrin Barnes; Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin; Charles Ahl (Junior Etou 73’), Sam Bassett (Yu Tsukanome 73’), Robbie Mertz; Trevor Amann (Eliot Goldthorp 62’)
Rhode Island FC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Koke Vegas; Aldair Sanchez (Dwayne Atkinson 73’), Frank Nodarse, Karina Yao, Nick Scardina; Zach Herivaux (Amos Shapiro-Thompson 67’), Hugo Bacharach; Leo Afonso (Eric Klein 82’), Noah Fuson (Stas Korzeniowski 67’), Jojea Kwizera; Osman Foyo (Grant Stoneman 82’)
Scoring summary
RI — Osman Foyo 74’ (Nick Scardina)
PIT — Eliot Goldthorp 90+5’ (Jackson Walti)
Discipline summary
RI — Karifa Yao 11’ (caution – reckless foul)
