New England Soccer Today

Reds Get First Win Over Phantoms

Head coach Kabba Joof and his Rhode Island Reds claimed their first win in franchise history in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Seacoast United Phantoms.

Diego Tabares (18′), Pedro Mendes (30′) and Paulo Mendes (81′) all scored for the Reds (1-1-1, 4 points) while Jimmy Petruccelli (44′) pulled one back for the Phantoms (0-2-1, 1 point) at Cranston Stadium.

In a match that featured a pair of ambitious attacks, the Reds fired the opening salvo in the 18th minute. Jason Garcia sent it to Wilder Arboleda, who’s shot was initially stopped by Tabares fired home the rebound to give the Reds their first lead of the season.

At the half hour, the Reds put another on the board when Arboleda gave it to Pedro Mendes. The Reds #10 hit a hard shot from 18 yards that lodged itself into the net for the two-goal lead.

But the Phantoms pressure finally cracked the Reds’ defense just before the interval. Petruccelli stepped up and launched a screamer that beat Mike Dandurand to cut the lead in half in the 44th minute.

In the waning minutes, though, the Reds put it out of reach. After knocking on the door for much of the match, Paulo Mendes collected a pass from Garcia and slid it through to cap the scoring in the 81st minute.

After starting off their inaugural season with three straight at home, the Reds embark on their first road trip on May 26 against the New York Red Bulls at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark.

(Editor’s note: A special thanks to David Borts, who helped contribute to this report)

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