Rhode Island FC head coach Khano Smith hailed the attitude of his side after they snatched a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw on their USL Championship debut at home to Mexico United at Beirne Stadium on Saturday.

Mexico United led deep into second-half stoppage time courtesy of Talen Maples’s 67th minute strike before Christopher Gloster scored an own goal to gift Smith’s team a share of the spoils.

The late equaliser sent a sold-out crowd of 5,252 supporters into euphoria as fireworks erupted around the stadium.

“That atmosphere and support was electric,” Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“I was disappointed not to win the game as I felt we created enough to do so. I’m proud of the players and I asked them to develop a spirit of never giving up. They pushed until the end and we just ran out of time.”

Rhode Island were forced to chase the match after Maples poked home a rebound after a free-kick from close range midway through the second half.

However, Smith’s team battled in search of a leveller with midfielder Clay Holstad grazing the crossbar and forward Albert Dikwa going close on multiple occasions and their persistence finally paid off just before the final whistle when Gloster sliced Rhode Island forward Noah Fuson’s dangerous cross past goalkeeper Alex Tambaki.

Smith’s team warmed up for their inaugural season in the USL Championship with a tour of Bermuda last month, where they romped to emphatic 8-0 and 5-1 victories against a League Select XI.

Elsewhere in the United States on Saturday, LeiLanni Nesbeth is still awaiting her first minutes as a professional after she was an unused substitute in Chicago Red Stars 2-0 win over hosts Utah Royals FC in their National Women’s League season opener at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.