Home vs. FC Tulsa Preview
Date: Saturday May 18, 2024
Kickoff Time: 7:30 pm EST at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (13 pts 3W-4D-2L); FC Tulsa (8 pts 2W-2D-4L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 6th in the East and Tulsa are 7th in the West
The Rowdies have hit an early crossroads in the 2024 season. After starting the year with several disappointing draws, but avoiding any losses, they have now lost two league games in a row. This comes despite the team putting together a good run of form in April, with high chance creation stats. This week, they will look to get themselves back on track at home vs. FC Tulsa. Make sure you have your tickets for the game at Al Lang this weekend!
What even happened last week?
Following a calamitous result vs. Memphis 901 FC, the Rowdies had two immediate chances to right the ship. First up was a US Open Cup game on a Wednesday, against Birmingham Legion, and then another league game the next Saturday, also against Birmingham Legion. Due to the red card to Forrest Lasso vs. Memphis, fans knew he’d be out of the Saturday match.
The US Open Cup tie, due to circumstances surrounding the game, was probably the more important one. Tampa Bay would be entering the competition in the Round of 32, farther along than the club had entered in years. A win at home – versus some close rivals – would put the team into the Round of 16, which would be the farthest they’ve ever been.
Suffice it to say, a win’s a win…. Right? In a match that went for 120 minutes or so, the Rowdies played well for roughly 100 of those. From the 80th minute until the end of regulation, however, the team collapsed like fans haven’t seen in years. There’s no two ways about it: this could have been – nay, should have been – a devastating quarter of an hour for the entire season.
This year, the Open Cup will not feature the majority of MLS teams. Whoever won this particular game would host FC Dallas, who are themselves having a down year overall. The opportunity could not have been bigger – and yet, the Rowdies nearly endeavored to throw away a 4-0 lead. It was a deep breath after regulation and a wonder goal from Manuel Arteaga that rescued things.
But how on earth could Legion make up a four-goal deficit after the 80th minute? It simply defies logic. Giving up the lead late is one thing – not one Tampa Bay has always avoided. But four?! In fifteen minutes?! An Austin Powers quote is the only thing that helps here: “The sheer mechanics of it are mindboggling!”
It was surely the worst case of complacency found to be found that day in the whole sport. Even that week or this whole month. That Legion didn’t take their momentum from the final moments of regulation and win it outright is shocking as well. They were possibly too tired to carry on.
After such an emotionally- and physically-taxing game, fans should allow the club a 1-0 loss at home immediately afterwards. It almost makes sense. The fact that it was the same team from Wednesday, and the fact of the lone goalscorer, do leave one with a different feeling. Partly a fluke or not, this is also the second league loss in a row. That’s a tougher pill to swallow.
Chance creation during the month of April was incredible for the Rowdies. That was also true for those good 100 minutes in the Open Cup against Birmingham. It wasn’t necessarily untrue for the league game on Saturday; but, it was definitely a case of a team not firing on all cylinders. This columnist will be hoping to chalk that up to understandable fatigue. Fatigue is something that can be managed and shouldn’t last a whole extra week.
What threat does Tulsa pose when they’re on the road?
Now the Rowdies return to Al Lang Stadium to host another game in the USL Championship. Playing in friendly territory does a soul good, whether you’re winning or losing, creating or just trudging. FC Tulsa comes to town looking to heap more misery on the Green and Gold if they can. Their fortunes so far haven’t been that different.
In eight league games this season – one fewer than the Rowdies – Tulsa have 10 points – three fewer than the Rowdies. That’s a difference of just one win. After a strong victory on the road vs. Las Vegas to start the year, Mario Sanchez’s charges have mainly only beat lesser teams, including cellar-dwellers El Paso. The exception was a tight 1-0 road win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds. That game was a midweek Open Cup tie, immediately followed by a 2-2 draw against the Riverhounds back in Oklahoma.
That match last Saturday night was action-packed and offered a good glimpse of what Tulsa can do. In this game, Phillip Goodrum won two penalties. He was only able to tuck one of those home, though. Despite missing the second, he did help create their second goal by getting the assist when his pass back across the box found the foot of Boubacar Diallo, who was running in from the opposite wing.
Goodrum joined FC Tulsa last year in the middle of the season under some acrimonious circumstances. While there wasn’t a ton of public reporting on his relationship with Memphis 901, he seemed frustrated with the decisions of the front office there and found himself on the outs. The club from northeast Oklahoma jumped on the chance to bring him in.
He would go on to score 12 goals after his switch in May. Those are pretty good returns – and it seems he hasn’t slowed down yet. His quick action after a cleared corner led to the first penalty. That one he knocked home with the help of Pittsburgh’s keeper’s head. The second penalty came from him chasing down a ball he should have had no business of reaching. That one, however, was saved.
Tulsa’s second goal, coming in between the two spot kicks, was emblematic of their chance creation under Mario Sanchez. Their right back received the ball, was able to create enough space for himself to play it up to Goodrum, whose knock-down header found right winger Blaine Ferri out wide. He then put the ball in behind the defense for Goodrum on a good run.
The cut back cross found the aforementioned Diallo. These two players and frequent recipient Stefan Stojanovic will need to be watched closely when they come to Al Lang. Diallo could have some extra motivation to score, as he will be somewhat familiar with soccer in Tampa Bay. His dad, Mamadou Diallo, starred for the Tampa Bay Mutiny during a short stint in the early 2000s.
The good news for the Rowdies is that while Tulsa like to use the wings to create, they are also vulnerable to the same kinds of attacks. Tampa Bay loves to involve their wingbacks and the extra space afforded to them on home turf could play a big role. Blake Bodily and Eddie Munjoma, provided they reprise their roles on Saturday, should be able to give it right back to the visitors.
Score Predictions from the RBLR Rowdies Podcast:
Carlos: 2-1 W
James: 2-0 W
Yurika: 3-0 W
