CHARLESTON, S.C. – Aimé Mabika scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout as No. 7 seed Rhode Island FC advanced with a 5-3 penalty shootout victory against the No. 2 seed Charleston Battery in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix after the sides had played to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes of action at Patriots Point.

Brought on as a late substitute in extra time, Mabika finished low to the left corner to cap a perfect sequence of penalty kicks for RIFC as they shot first. The key moment of the shootout came in the third round, when after Maxi Rodriguez scored for the visitors, the Battery’s Arturo Rodriguez sent his shot high, giving the defending Eastern Conference title-holders an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.

The shootout followed a game which didn’t properly come to life until the second half. The Battery had a big chance to take the lead just before the hour-mark as Rodriguez played Cal Jennings in behind the RIFC back line on the right, but Rhode Island goalkeeper Koke Vegas made an outstanding save to deny the one-on-one opportunity. The visitors twice went close as the second half progressed, with JJ Williams being denied on a well struck free kick before Jojea Kwizera had a low effort parried away by Charleston’s Luis Zamudio.

Zamudio then pulled off a crucial save in second-half stoppage time to tip a header by Williams onto the crossbar, the carom coming down in front of the goal line to keep the game scoreless. Moments later, both sides were reduced to 10 players as the Battery’s Houssou Landry and Kwizera were each sent off after an altercation escalated between the sides, but the game remained scoreless to send it to extra time.

Each had chances in the first period of extra time, with RIFC’s Hugo Bacharach fizzing a volley from the top of the penalty area over the crossbar, while Vegas made another important stop to deny a looping header by Jennings. The Battery then almost grabbed victory in the final minute of extra time when Aaron Molloy’s long-range strike was well saved by Vegas, but the game was decided from the spot, where Rhode Island kept its cool to advance.

Takeaways

Charleston Battery: The Battery’s hopes of a third consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Final were dashed by their visitors as the highest-scoring team in the regular season was unable to find a decisive moment across 120 minutes of action, with the shootout defeat bringing back memories of its loss in the 2023 USL Championship Final.

Rhode Island FC: Having suffered notable shootout defeats to rival Hartford Athletic in the group stage and Sacramento Republic FC in the Semifinals of the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup, Rhode Island came through from the spot on this occasion, taking five strong penalty kicks to earn its place in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Key moment

Rhode Island FC’s Hugo Bacharach followed the miss by the Battery to open the fourth round of the shootout with a goal, cementing his side’s advantage on the way to victory.

Key stat

Rhode Island recorded 163 passes in the final third as the visitors held more possession in the attacking half than the Battery, with 32.4 percent of the game played in Charleston’s defensive third.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Koke Vegas, Rhode Island FC – Vegas recorded a four-save shutout, making key saves twice on Cal Jennings, and commanded his penalty area impressively throughout the contest.

Scoring Summary
No Scoring

Penalty Shootout

Charleston Battery – Aaron Molloy, scored; Rubio Rubín, scored; Arturo Rodriguez, missed; MD Myers, scored

Rhode Island FC – JJ Williams, scored; Hamady Diop, scored; Maxi Rodriguez, scored; Hugo Bacharach, scored; Aimé Mabika, scored