The second-ever game at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island ended in last-minute disappointment for the home team, as the New England Revolution eked out Rhode Island FC 2-1 in the Round of 32 of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
The first game of the competition to be held in Pawtucket in 83 years (according to TheCup.us records) saw the two-year-old USL Championship squad RIFC play against an MLS squad based just 21 miles north across the border in Massachusetts, the first ever meeting between the two teams.
The game’s initial shot on target would come from the Revolution in the 21st minute, as forward Maxi Urruti dashed through the Rhode Island defense, forcing RIFC goalkeeper Jackson Lee into a diving save to his right.
Both teams have been tough to score on during their season campaigns so far, a reality which played out for most of the first half. However, Urruti would be involved again in the 38th minute, when a turnover in Rhode Island’s own third resulted in the ball landing at his feet.
With a well-timed first touch, the well-seasoned 34-year-old Urruti slipped past the defense at the top of the box. A slide tackle from Rhode Island’s Rio Hope-Gund resulted in the ball falling to midfielder Tomás Chancalay, who beat RIFC’s Lee to score the first goal of the Revolution’s 2025 Cup campaign and the first-ever goal at the newly-constructed Centreville Bank Stadium.
“I told (the team) before the game ‘Don’t let one of their players be the first player to score in the stadium, but obviously that didn’t happen,’” RIFC Head Coach Khano Smith, who played for the Revolution in 2005 through 2008 and again in 2010, said. “But it was an outstanding player (in Chancalay), so if it’s gonna be somebody, it (should) be someone of that level.”
Overcoming the sour start to their first Cup home game, RIFC came out of the locker room in the second half with energy. In the 50th minute, Maxi Rodriguez would score the home side’s first ever goal at their brand new stadium, slotting home a cross from Noah Fuson to bring the crowd back to life.
“It felt nice to get one in the stadium in front of the crowd and supporters,” Rodriguez said of the goal. “People expected us to lose because we’re a USL side, so I think we came in with no pressure. It was fun, but (the result) was unfortunate.”
Both squads had the same amount of shots with just five minutes left to go in regulation, with RIFC having a slight advantage in possession. But just as it seemed like the game was destined for extra time, an 88th minute cross from the 23-year old midfielder Gevork Diarbian ended up sailing over the outstretched arms of Lee and ricocheting off the post, falling to Christiano Oliveria.
Despite it being the MLS NEXT Pro player’s first appearance with the senior squad, he calmly flicked it off the keeper and into the net for his first senior team goal which ended up deciding the match.
Rhode Island’s second-ever Cup run ended up following a similar pattern as last year, where the team was bounced in the first match, a third round game where they drew USL1 side Charlotte Independence 4-4 before losing 5-4 in penalty kicks. They continue their 2025 USL Championship season at home against Monterey Bay FC on Saturday. The three-time Cup finalists and one-time champion Revolution advance to the Round of 16, where they are set to play either fellow MLS squad Chicago Fire or USLC side Detroit City FC.