2026 US Open Cup Round 3: Revolution need PKs to win battle of New England over Rhode Island

The New England Revolution staved off a feisty Rhode Island FC on Tuesday night, as goalkeeper Donovan Parisian — making his first start for the first team — played a big role in preventing the upset, allowing the Revolution to win 3-1 in penalties after a 1-1 draw and advance to the Round of 16 in the 2026 US Open Cup. 

The Round of 32 contest saw the MLS squad travel 21 miles south to serve as the home team at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, the usual home of their opponents. It was the second time these two squads have met in the Cup in the past two years. 

The game eventually found itself packed with action after a slow start, with the first 30 minutes seeing only the Revolution log a single shot. A memorable moment finally arrived a few minutes into the second half, as a 51st minute cross into the box from Peyton Miller found the head of fellow Revolution defender Damario McIntosh, who left in the path of a streaking Diego Fagundez. 

A familiar face for Revolution fans, having returned to his childhood squad this year after an eight-year stint away, Fagundez fired a rocket pass Rhode Island goalkeeper Koke Vegas for a 1-0 lead. It was Fagundez’s third goal in the competition all-time, and second in a Revs uniform, with his last for New England coming in 2017.

RIFC had just one shot through 75 minutes, doing little to test 21-year-old New England goalkeeper Donovan Parisian, who was playing in his inaugural game with the first-team squad, coming from MLS NEXT Pro’s New England Revolution II. 

That quickly changed in the last 20 minutes of the contest, as RIFC slowly found its legs. In the 82nd minute, a long ball to a streaking Leo Alfonso gave him a clear shot on goal, but Parisian made the diving save to his left.

With multiple players needing treatment in the second half, 10 minutes was added on, giving Rhode Island more time to attack. The USL-C squad needed every minute of it, putting a looping ball into the box in the 10th minute of stoppage time. Parisian got his hands to the ball above his head, but it deflected away right to the head of RIFC’s JJ Williams. 

His header hit off the post, with Parisian diving to knock the rebound away. Parisian collided with a RIFC player and stayed down, leading the official to stop play.

Play resumed with a drop ball to Rhode Island’s Hamady Diop right outside the box. His launched cross deflected off a Rev defender and directly to the head of Williams. WIlliams’ header beat Parisian, giving Rhode Island a stunning, last-second equalizer at 1-1 directly in front of their supporter’s section, who were sitting in the typical section despite their status as away opponents.

Extra time saw chances for both teams, with the most threatening being a 103rd minute screamer from Luca Langoni that made it past Vegas, but it was deflected off the line by RIFC defender Grant Stoneman. 

Parisian lasted 110 minutes before allowing a Rhode Island goal, and he came up big again in the penalty shootout. 

Diop started penalties off with a goal, quickly matched by New England’s Luca Langoni. Then, Parisian stopped successive efforts from Jojea Kwizera, Leo Afonso, and Williams, allowing goals from New England veteran Andrew Farrell and captain Tanner Beason to be the difference makers.

“I’m feeling ecstatic. I’m just really, really happy for the team, for myself, the coaches, everyone,” said Parisian. “A lot of work gets put into it, specifically for the PKs, doing homework on it and trusting Kevin Hitchcock.”

“Everybody ran their tails off, I mean they really put everything out there,” Williams said. “So we just got to be a little bit better at the end.”

With the win, the Revolution will play in the Round of 16 for the 17th time in franchise history. RIFC’s exit from the tournament mirrored last year, which also saw them eliminated by the Revs in the Round of 32.