Tampa Bay Rowdies Weekly
Date: Saturday October 18, 2025
Result: Tampa Bay 3-2 Hartford
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (33 pts 9W-6D-14L); Hartford Athletic (44 pts 13W-5D-11L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 10th in the East and Hartford are 3rd.
RBLR Man of the Match:
Carlos:
James: Danny Crisostomo
After the Rowdies had a rough weekend, they turned things around and earned a big win. This victory and the subsequent three points keep the team in the playoff race. What irony then that the next opponent is exactly three points above Tampa Bay and sitting in eighth place. With a big swing in goal differential, and some help from elsewhere, they could still make the playoffs ahead of Detroit City. Make sure you’re there this weekend to cheer the team on!
Date: Saturday October 25, at 7:30
Upcoming Game: Tampa Bay vs. Detroit City
…. So you’re saying there’s a possibility?
Somehow, despite it all – including a 5-0 loss only two weeks ago, the Rowdies stay active in the playoff hunt. That aforementioned loss is made all the more confusing by the result from last weekend. Tampa Bay was able to hold off arguably the hottest team in the USL Championship, score some bangers on the way, and put three more points on the board.
The team started well. With a goal in under ten minutes, no one in the stands could’ve wished for a better start. It was also a deserved lead. The Rowdies were playing well. A central midfield of Danny Crisostomo and Alex Mendez proved crucial. Both of them contributed in the attacking and defensive parts of the game. But, it was Mendez who provided the incredible assist for the first goal.
Manuel Arteaga’s classy finish wasn’t his only contribution, either. Ahead of the second goal, it was his sliding tackle that won the ball off of former Rowdie Jordan Scarlett. Paul Marie was there to pick it up and lay it off, originally intending to find Arteaga again. Instead, Woobens Pacius stepped up and found the back of the net. This trio is firing on all cylinders right now.
Where Tampa Bay has needed the most help lately, though, is not in attack. In the defensive end, they have been careless at times – or allowed lapses of judgement. That’s what happened right before the halftime whistle when Hartford clawed back a goal from in farcical fashion. This is how teams throw games away, and the Green and Gold have thrown away a fair few like that this year.
No need to fear this time out. Mendez restored a two-goal cushion, which came in handy when his side gave up yet another stoppage time goal after 90 minutes had elapsed on the clock. It was a job done, even if it was barely done. The Rowdies took their three points that left them only another three behind Detroit City. Conveniently enough, those are the opponents this weekend.
Whoever wrote that didn’t know how close it would be. The good news for Floridian fans is that, while Tampa Bay aren’t great defensively, Detroit City aren’t good in attack. This could bode well for the team, and there are a lot of positive indicators ahead of Saturday. The opposition’s best striker has ten goals, while the next two have six and four, respectively.
Those aren’t the most eye-catching numbers. Additionally, Darren Smith scored his tenth league goal on September 6th. Before then, he scored twice in August, the first time he’d been on the score sheet since May. Naturally, he did notch one in Detroit City’s 2-0 win over Tampa Bay on August 23rd. However, his recent record leaves a lot to be desired for the Michiganders.
On the other side, the Rowdies are putting up great numbers going forward. Arteaga and Woobs have found top form recently. This coincides with the additions of Marie and Mendez. The latter’s play with Crisostomo in the midfield was among the best from a central duo this whole season for Tampa Bay. If they can keep it up, good things should follow.
The playoff permutations are the final topic to cover here. A preview wouldn’t be complete without them. The Rowdies need to win. That much we know. However, the USL playoff places are not determined by goal differential. With a system that takes into account head to head matchups, things get more dicey when considering the final playoff contender in the East.
Indy Eleven travel to California to take on Orange County. The most obvious solution is for OC to win, leaving Indy on 35 points and hopefully behind where the Rowdies end up. If they draw that match, more factors come into play. The best outcome is that Tampa Bay wins, by multiple goals, and Indy loses. This would also – incidentally – boost confidence.
Orange County have their own concerns about the playoff places out West. They should want to win just as much as Indy, Detroit, and Tampa Bay. They’ll also have the benefit of playing a team that just had to travel nearly across the country. USL fans have seen how long flights impact their team numerous times. Those in Green and Gold will hope for some help from the Black and Orange.
RBLR Score Predictions:
Carlos: 2-0 W
James: 3-0 W
Yurika: 4-1 W
RBLR Sports Predictions Standings:
Carlos: 12
James: 19
Yurika: 21
