Late substitute forces stoppage time own goal to secure memorable 1-1 draw
As the 90-minute mark passed in Rhode Island FC’s inaugural match, the team found itself down 1-0 against New Mexico United and in desperate need of an equalizer to rescue a point in front of its home crowd for the very first time. Looking for a veteran spark to ignite his offense, Head Coach Khano Smith’s 87th-minute substitution of Irish forward Mark Doyle would provide a pivotal edge in the attacking third that ultimately resulted in late heroics fitting of a highly-anticipated inaugural match.
“Whatever time you get, you have to try and make an impact,” Doyle said after the match. “I was just trying to make an impact, get in the box, get in the area. I probably only got the ball a few times but I obviously tried to do something positive with it and just work.”
Doyle’s few touches would prove to be vitally important.
Making what would turn out to be one of the final attacking pushes of the match deep into second half stoppage time, RIFC forward Noah Fuson received a pass on the left wing with room to roam. Taking advantage of the time and space, the striker whipped a cross into the penalty area just beyond the top of the six-yard box at the far post.
Fuson’s curling cross seemed destined for the outstretched leg of Doyle, who dove in with his right foot at the back post. However, in a misguided attempt to clear the ball, New Mexico’s Christopher Gloster was first to make contact, redirecting the ball past the reaching leg of goalkeeper Alex Tambakis and into the back of his own net. Although the contact from Doyle was minimal, his positioning played a critical role in forcing the late equalizer. The goal, which will forever be etched in Rhode Island FC history, sent the Defiance 1636 supporters behind the net into euphoria.
“When you’re pushing for an equalizer or you’re trying to hold on to a win at home, it’s massively important to have those fans there,” Doyle said. “It was nice to have that moment at the end where we scored and we could celebrate because we deserved that.”
Minutes later, with the smoke from the celebratory fireworks still fresh in the air of Beirne Stadium, Doyle came inches away from a second goal at the death. His header from close range found the target, but what would have been the match-winner was denied at the goalmouth by the strong palm of Tambakis.
Through 90 minutes, RIFC outshot New Mexico 20-9, forcing nine total saves out of Tambakis. The offensive unit hit the woodwork twice in the first half, but ultimately could not find the breakthrough despite the attacking advantage.
“It’s good to get something out of the match, because we more than deserved it,” Doyle said. “It would’ve been a travesty if we got nothing out of it because we had a lot of chances. I think we played really well for most of the match, so we deserved at least what we got.”
Doyle, who spent the first eight years of his career in the top flight of Ireland, is no stranger to the back of the net. In six years with his first club, Drogheda United F.C., the forward scored 50 goals and assisted 15 across 144 appearances. He tacked on another 15 goals and six assists in two years with St. Patrick’s Athletics F.C. before moving stateside to Rhode Island for the 2024 USL Championship season. Doyle’s RIFC home opener goal involvement was certainly not his first in a critical moment. On November 12, 2023, he scored a 23rd-minute equalizer against Bohemian F.C. in the 2023 FAI Cup Final, spurring an eventual title run with the Supersaints in a 3-1 win.
Despite recovering from a minor preseason injury, Doyle’s USL Championship career is off to a flying start. The striker now adds a historic and memorable USL Championship debut to his decorated resume.
“Coach said to us during the week, ‘Especially at home, you can’t ever say die,’” Doyle said. “I think we kept the pressure on and tried the whole match, and got what we deserved in the end. I think we probably deserved three points, but when you’re 1-0 down and there’s a few minutes left, you’ll take it.”
Doyle and Rhode Island FC will return to USL Championship action on Sunday, March 24 (6 p.m. ET) when the club travels to California to take on Monterey Bay F.C. Fans can watch the match from the Rhode Island FC Official Watch Party at Providence Brewing Company or tune in live on NESN or ESPN+. After another road match the following week against Tampa Bay Rowdies (7:30 p.m., ESPN+), RIFC returns to Beirne Stadium on Saturday, April 6 (7:30 p.m.) to host defending Eastern Conference Champions Charleston Battery. Tickets to the next home match are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.