Away Loss to Charleston Review
Date: Saturday April 5, 2025
Result: Charleston 2-1 Tampa Bay
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (3 pts 1W-0D-3L); Charleston Battery (6 pts 2W-0D-2L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 9th in the East and the Battery are 6th.
The Rowdies ended their road trip to start the 2025 campaign the same way they started it: with a disappointing loss. At least one potential injury concern as well as multiple questionable decisions popped up as the team conceded twice. This was enough to cancel out a later goal from Woobs, who got his second so far. The good news is that the next game is the home opener. Al Lang awaits its Green and Gold heroes for the 50th anniversary season!
ET TU, CAL JENNINGS?!
As has happened many times before, a former Rowdie came back to bite the team in the rear. Cal has been an incredible scoring force in USL for some time now, with two years helping lift the Rowdies offensively most recently. He was lively from the jump. He has also been in good form to start the year, scoring three goals in prior games, including one from the spot.
That would become important later on, as right before halftime a penalty was awarded to the Battery. While there are many talking points from before the penalty, and probably lots more this column will touch on, a big decision like this from a referee tends to take up all the space for conversation online. This one would be no different sadly.
A ball to split Tampa Bay’s defenders was put through, right into the path of the onrushing Nanan Houssou. Playing as a right back with Charleston, the former central midfielder knows how to make the most of space. His opponent, Rowdies defender Blake Bodily had to spin to make the play, and thought he’d caught up with Houssou just in time.
The referee had other ideas and labeled the take down a foul. Home fans were pleased, while those back in Florida were furious. Who would step up but Cal Jennings? After some antics in net reminiscent of another Argentine keeper, Nico Campisi guessed right – but was unable to make a save. Cal made sure he knew that Cal knew all his smack talk meant nothing.
It should be noted this is the second penalty conceded by Blake Bodily in two games. The one in the match vs. The Miami was farcical, to be sure; but, any incidence bears reviewing. In particular, both of these calls came when the Rowdies were lined up in a 4-3-3. The formational change has benefitted some players, while making life harder for others. Such is sport.
The question is whether or not it has allowed Tampa Bay to play better soccer. The Green and Gold looked good for spells in both the Miami game and the Charleston game. The first was a win, though a lucky win, considering the aforementioned penalty that was blasted over the bar. Against the Battery, the performance wasn’t always what was desired.
The second goal the Rowdies conceded was especially galling. Just two minutes after giving up a gilt edge chance which MD Myers thankfully put wide, the Battery forward found himself wide open in the six yard box. He wouldn’t miss such a glaring opportunity a second time. The fact that he put the ball in the net a third time shouldn’t be surprising – just lucky it was ruled offside.
Among those three chances for Myers, the one he headed home was probably the easiest. In between Robert Castellanos and Aaron Guillen – subbed on for Blake Bodily at halftime – he had all the time in the world to set his feet and direct his header. Was Guillen caught in two minds with his wide player to mark? What about Castellanos? Who can say? But, the shape was horrific and, ultimately, costly.
RBLR Man of the Match:
James: Thomas Vancaeyezeele
Yurika: Pacifique Niyongabire
RBLR Sports Predictions Standings:
Carlos: 1
James: 4
Yurika: 4
