Overview:

Brooklyn FC conceded three goals in the final 18 minutes en route to a 4-1 loss to Rhode Island FC in a USL Championship game on Saturday night.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Brooklyn FC conceded three goals in the final 18 minutes en route to a 4-1 loss to Rhode Island FC in a USL Championship game on Saturday night.

Rhode Island scored three goals in the final 18 minutes to break open a close game.

Midfielder Jojea Kwizera tallied twice, including the game-winner in the 72nd minute. Forward JJ Williams added a late brace, to seal the win for ninth-place Rhode Island, in the Eastern Conference.

Brooklyn FC (2-1-7, 7), which is in 12th place, made its first trip to Centreville Bank Stadium as it reached the third-way mark of its inaugural season. Rhode Island FC started the match with lots of pressure, but several saves from goalkeeper Jackson Lee kept the game scoreless.

In the 13th minute, Rhode Island put its first shot on target, following a towering header from Williams, but it fell comfortably into Lee’s hands. Chaos in the Brooklyn box around the 22nd minute led to two more saves from Lee, including a clearance off the goal line and a shot from Williams that hit the crossbar before being saved by Lee.

Rhode Island’s pressure eventually led to an opening goal from Kwizera in the 39th minute. Kwizera shot from the left side of the box just past the outstretched hand of Lee.

Brooklyn FC gained some control of the run of play with three consecutive corner kicks around the 41st minute, but was unable to get the equalizer.

The opening of the second half brought more attacking success for Brooklyn. In the 52nd minute, midfielder CJ Olney played a pinpoint cross from the left wing, but forward Markus Anderson’s header went just wide.

Ten minutes later, Brooklyn found its breakthrough for a 1-1 tie. Olney scored from the left wing as his floated ball bounced off the far post and into the back of the net for his first Brooklyn FC goal.

Rhode Island responded in the 72nd minute as Kwizera tallied his second goal of the match, running down the right wing, cutting onto his left foot, and curling a screamer past Lee.

Brooklyn FC kept attacking the Rhode Island goal, and reinforcements were brought in through the Puerto Rican international Jaden Servania, who entered the match in the 76th minute.

Williams got his late brace, with goals in the 82nd and 85th minute as the hosts pulled away.