Away to Monterey Bay Preview
Date: Saturday August 3, 2024
Kickoff Time: 10:00 pm EST at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside, CA
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (38 pts 11W-5D-4L); Monterey Bay (26 pts 7W-5D-9L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 3rd in the East and Monterey Bay are 8th in the West.
The Rowdies looked like they might be down and out. A 2-0 scoreline is how many teams have lost to Charleston Battery – and it’s not one many have come back from. However, Robbie Neilson and co. decided they weren’t done. A stunning 4-2 win, with an exclamation point from not one, but two young stars, has put this club in an incredible position. Now they must go out west and prove they can do it on the road again!
Was that the best Rowdies game of the modern era?
If we’re only considering regular season games… maybe. It definitely is up there for the most exciting affairs to take place at Al Lang in some time. The emotion of the crowd crept onto the field in numerous ways, from the more hushed moments after giving up a second goal to the controversy before the second half kick off and the third and fourth goals scored by Tampa Bay.
It was certainly a more nervy beginning to the match. In the post-game press conference, coach Neilson said he had set his side up with a gameplan in mind that ultimately did not bear fruit. Based on recent footage, Charleston would often have either Aaron Molloy or Chris Allan from the central midfield drop into the backline when in possession to kick start attacking plays.
The Battery’s manager, Ben Pirmann, must’ve expected the Rowdies to play with that in mind because he switched things up, deciding to go a lot more direct and putting the ball into the feet of Emilio Ycaza in the #10 spot and Chris Allan, who was playing higher up the field. This was devastating and Charleston were by far the better side, 2-0 up before 15 minutes had passed.
The Rowdies recognized this, though, and Neilson switched things up as well during the water break. Tampa Bay started to sit deeper and didn’t allow Ycaza and Allan the time and space they had previously enjoyed. In fact, the next big action for Ycaza – a St. Petersburg native – was to give away the penalty that allowed the Green and Gold back into the game right before halftime.
Molloy went down with an injury as well, thus depriving Charleston of one of their best players. Before the next 45 could even start, something that would impact the game took place right in front of the Al Lang standing section, the most rabid fans in the crowd. Battery goalkeeper Adam Grinwis pointed out a problem he saw with the penalty spot in that box.
Seemingly unhappy with its placement, he kicked up a divot in the spot where he thought penalty kick takers should have to place the ball. This sent Ralph’s Mob over the edge and he would get booed every touch thereafter. While the Battery on the field could not impact the game like they did in the first 15 minutes, Grinwis ultimately may have been booed into making a big mistake.
When substitute Damian Rivera received a ball into space on the left side, only the Battery’s keeper was there to make any type of play to prevent a goal. He did not do this gracefully, giving away a free kick as the last man. Grinwis was jeered all the way off the field after his red card. Charleston subbed on their back up goalkeeper. Meanwhile, up stepped Nate Worth.
The 17-year-old has not taken many of these free kicks this year. He wasn’t even lining up to do so at first. But, Neilson intervened. He told RBLR Sports in the post-game presser that he told Lewis Hilton to give the ball to Worth and let him have a shot. This could not have gone better, as the teenager put that ball in off the upper corner of the post. The crowd lost its collective mind.
Will Monterey Bay prove a thorn in our side?
Following a result as good as that one is a tough act. Not only did the Rowdies come back from 2-0 down against a team ahead of them in the standings, they did so with a thunderbolt of a strike from one of the youngest players on the team. That was followed up with a fourth goal by another youngster, all of which has the potential to galvanize the team for the rest of the season.
Before fans get their hopes up, though, another kind of test stands in the way. No, the club they’re facing this weekend will not be the toughest the Rowdies play. They are not particularly high in the standings. They are not leading the scoring charts. But, what has dogged Tampa Bay all year is something slightly different: away opponents on turf fields.
Yet again, it is the fabled turf monster that presents the biggest problem. What’s most positive is that the Rowdies have recently played a strong game on a similar surface, coming away with a 2-0 win over Indy Eleven. Monterey Bay seem like an ideal opponent to take on while traveling and riding a wave of emotion that could carry Tampa Bay to new heights in 2024.
The club from California has had its share of problems this season. Many injuries are the first among those affecting the team this year. With results not going the right way, Wednesday of this week, it was announced that manager Frank Yallop had been let go, along with his assistant Ramiro Corrales. Simon Dawkins, a former player, takes over on an interim basis.
This is a club that generally will try to press when out of possession. The downside for them has been a lack of height. This means Monterey Bay’s opponents will be able to play a direct style that bypasses the press altogether and finds strikers – hopefully – lurking in space. Tampa Bay has proved capable of playing this way when it suits them in recent matches.
Additionally, Monterey Bay have struggled to create a lot of offense. Beyond creating chances with their pressing, it is also a team which will rely on crosses into the box. Here again, though, the general lack of height plays to their disadvantage. Provided Freddy Kleemann continues to start, he should be able to rack up some defensive clearance numbers this weekend.
This is not to say the Rowdies should take this game lightly. In fact, it has mostly been when Tampa Bay expects to win easily that they struggle the most. Whether or not that comes down to complacency is something this column and RBLR Sports in general has contemplated in the past. The best way to banish those demons is to turn in another strong performance out west.
If the Rowdies can show they can beat the likes of Charleston, despite going down 2-0, and go out west and beat teams there, this will display the consistency that has been the most elusive factor to success in west Florida. It would give fans much to dream about and the players even more confidence as the hottest month of the year is just getting started.
Score Predictions from the RBLR Rowdies Podcast:
Carlos: 1-0 W
James: 1-0 W
Yurika: 2-0 W
