Jager Cup Win Over Naples Review
Date: Friday July 4, 2025
Result: Tampa Bay 2-0 Naples
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (7pt 2W-1D-0L); FC Naples (3pts 1W-0D-2L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 1st in the 2025 USL Jagermeister Cup Group 6. Naples are 5th.
Two away trips to FC Naples, two victories in different cup competitions. It’s safe to say the Rowdies like playing down in the Paradise Coast. As part of their revitalizing efforts over the summer, Tampa Bay needed to continue their better recent play against a lower division side. They did that with a comprehensive performance in a strong shutout win. It’s the perfect way to prepare for an extended road trip over the next several weeks.
How do you solve a problem like Naples?
Ahead of this match, the preview column went through some of the potential pitfalls the Rowdies could experience while playing Naples. On a turf pitch, the home side would likely have the advantage. They would surely have had the emotional edge as well, as any game against a higher-level club brings out the best in someone. It’s natural to have a chip on your shoulder.
As was also pointed out, though, Naples is in a rough moment of their inaugural season. They are lacking in confidence – and it seemed evident at times. The Rowdies weren’t able to run their hosts off the field necessarily. But, once they went down, the south Floridians looked like they already knew how the game was going to end.
It was a particularly tough break for Naples because they had just put the ball in the net before Tampa Bay took the lead. That was rightly called offside and, not even ten minutes later, the Green and Gold were up. It was a goal worthy of a higher division team: a ball over the defense from Laurence Wyke was touched down ever so gently by Luis Alvarez for Woobens Pacius to put it away.
The 3-5-2 formation for the Rowdies worked out well. Despite a first half substitution for the injured Robert Castellanos, a direct replacement allowed the team to continue as it had been. Nick Moon came on and stepped in at the right wing back spot, with Thomas Vancaeyezeele dropping deeper onto the backline. The latter’s versatility has paid off multiple times this season.
Moon continued to play a vital role in building attacks, with Blake Bodily doing the same on the other side. Tampa Bay has made a habit of running opposition teams ragged by switching the ball from one side to the next with the help of the central defensive midfielder, most frequently in the last few years represented by talismanic Englishman Lewis Hilton.
It was another Englishman filling that spot against Naples, with Wyke moving off the backline. He did a good job both creating attacking plays and shutting down the same attempts from Naples. Although the home side ended with 14 shots – double that of their opponents – they registered no Big Chances on the night, according to FotMob.
On the other side of the ledger, the Rowdies did create two Big Chances, both of which ended in goals. That clinical finishing has been lacking at moments this year. The second goal, scored in the 60th minute, was a straightforward header from Manuel Arteaga off a Bodily cross. After a tough start to 2025, Manu now has five goals in all competitions, and a nice confidence booster, too.
Tampa Bay saw out the game in relative comfort – as well as one big save from Nico Campisi. They celebrated afterwards with the traveling fans. A job well done and options in key positions accounted for: Wyke competent in defensive midfield; Vancaeyezeele in two roles; Luis Alvarez solidifying his chops in Green and Gold. And the reward? They now lead their Jager Cup group!
RBLR Man of the Match:
James: Laurence Wyke
Carlos: Forrest Lasso
RBLR Sports Predictions Standings:
Carlos: 7
James: 14
Yurika: 14
