In a closely fought International Club Friendly, a team from Rhode Island edged out Sarasota Paradise with a 2-1 victory on February 8, 2026. The match, kicking off at 04:30 UTC, provided competitive action for both sides during the preseason period. The Rhode Island side started brightly and managed to take a first-half lead, demonstrating effective pressing and transition play. Sarasota Paradise responded after the interval, equalizing to set up a tense finale. However, the home team showed resilience, scoring a late winner to secure the result. These friendly matches are vital for building team cohesion and assessing player fitness, and the competitive nature of this encounter will have pleased both coaching staffs. For the Rhode Island squad, coming from behind to win is a positive psychological boost, while Sarasota Paradise will reflect on a performance that showed promise but ultimately fell short in key moments.