Penalty Loss to The Miami Review
Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Result: Tampa Bay 3-3 The Miami (4-5 on penalties)
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (1pt 0W-1D-0L); The Miami FC (2pts 0W-0D-0L-1PKW)
Standings: The Rowdies are 4th in the 2025 USL Jagermeister Cup Group 6. Miami are 3rd.
There’s an old saying: soccer is a game of two halves. It was on a Scottish-football themed mug my dad had growing up; and it was the way Steve Coleman described Saturday night’s penalty loss to south Florida rivals The Miami. After having probably the best 45 minutes of competitive play in 2025, the Rowdies then had likely their worst in that same stretch. So it goes. They’ll have to dust themselves off to have a chance to move on in the Jager Cup.
How did that even happen?
Starting out this game, the Rowdies matched up pretty well against their opponent. An ostensible 4-4-2 allowed them the flexibility to cover Miami’s starting formation with roughly three-at-the-back when in possession. Woobens Pacius and Manuel Arteaga would sit deeper, giving that back three time and space with the ball, knowing it would likely not lead to anything.
That was a fine calculation, because it never seemed to get past the midfield line of Cammy MacPherson and Danny Crisostomo. The two of them and their outlets on the wing would then take over possession of the ball, slow things down, and often find good amounts of room behind the wingbacks for the visitors. Sometimes, they didn’t even need to look that far ahead.
Miami’s defensive midfielder Diego Mercado at times seemed swamped. He found himself surrounded by four shirts of Green and Gold until midfield partner Deian Veron dropped a little deeper. By that time, their side was already down 1-0. The south Floridians had a few chances going forward; but, they certainly didn’t look like the side that had won three of their last four.
Key to all of this was Tampa Bay’s midfield. MacPherson and Crisostomo have learned to play very well in central midfield together. They will share defensive and distributive duties, bringing in Ollie Bassett on the left and Pacifique Niyongabire on the right. The latter of those against Miami would frequently get to the end line and look for a good cutback into the box.
It was interplay between these two wingers, both on the right side at the time, that led to the corner from which the Rowdies scored their second. MacPherson took the corner and put in the cross that Robert Castellanos headed home. The visitors changed their formation a bit to try to handle things more effectively. Before they could figure it all out, they were 3-0 down.
This third goal was a thing of beauty. Following an interception, Forrest Lasso found MacPherson, whose quick ball to Manuel Arteaga was controlled perfectly. He turned his man in the process, and found Woobens Pacius. He then played it down the line for Bassett, who cut it back to Arteaga in the box. He’s worked so hard through 2025 to not score until now. You could see on his face how much it meant.
Just before halftime, a pivotal moment occurred when MacPherson went down holding his shoulder. After the game, manager Steve Coleman said this was a possible recurrence of an injury he’s dealt with in the past. He was forced off – and the game altered drastically from there. This change preceded multiple tactical subs from Miami at halftime that would also impact things.
Although the visitors now seemed better suited to defensive work, things didn’t truly swing in their favor until they were awarded a penalty. Tampa Bay missed several chances to put the final nail in the coffin before Sebastian Blanco gave Miami new life from the spot. Whether or not it was another bad call against the hosts is up for debate. This columnist is firmly incensed that it was given that way.
Textbook tackle aside, it was the spark they needed. The south Floridians got another off a free kick and started to heap on the pressure. The equalizer was the cheapest among their three goals. But, that’s football. Jager Cup rules dictated penalties after 90 minutes, and former USMNT vet Bill Hamid wouldn’t be outdone. It was topsy turvy and incredibly frustrating. Now it puts Tampa Bay in a hole in their group.
RBLR Man of the Match:
James: Cammy MacPherson
Carlos:
RBLR Sports Predictions Standings:
Carlos: 1
James: 5
Yurika: 5
