Reds Earn 1st Point in 1-1 Draw

The Reds and FC New York battled to a 1-1 draw at Cranston Stadium on Friday.

CRANSTON, R.I. – Paulo Mendes scored the first goal in Rhode Island Reds history in Friday’s 1-1 draw to FC New York.

Mendes’ 41st minute tally tied it after Cemil Turin put New York on the board in the 8th minute. The 1-1 draw also marked the first point collected by the Reds, who dropped a 1-0 in their inaugural game last week against the Brooklyn Italians.

Friday’s game kicked off an hour after it’s scheduled 7pm start time due to a traffic delay experienced by New York’s traveling caravan. But once they arrived at Cranston Stadium, they wasted little time putting their mark on the match.

Showing no signs of lethargy following hours on the interstates, New York announced their intentions early. On a rush into the Rhode Island area, Fabian Santibanez sent it to Turin, who put it past keeper Mike Dandurand to grab the lead eight minutes into the match.

The Reds found their share of chances as the half progressed. Wilder Arboleda fired a shot from 25 yards that Keegan Peterson pounced on before his line in the 22nd minute. Peterson was called upon again in the 28th minute when he corralled a dangerous Diego Tabares effort to keep the Reds off the board.

But there was little he could do in the 41st minute. Off a Rhode Island throw in, Jason Garcia sent a lead pass that Mendes latched onto, then sent it into the back of the net for the equalizer minutes before the interval.

The second half witnessed a handful of opportunities for either team to grab to the go-ahead. In the 57th minute, Steve Rivera volleyed a shot from the left edged of the box that strayed inches away from the upper 90.

Rhode Island countered in the 78th minute when Tabares sliced through the defense and unleashed a shot that curled wide of the left post.

Minutes from the final whistle, New York nearly put themselves ahead when Justin Rivera put a shot past Dandurand that was cleared right off the line by Joaquim DePina, who preserved the draw in the 87th minute.

The Reds return to the field on Sunday when they host the Seacoast United Phantoms at Cranston Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2pm.