10 Man Rowdies Win in Miami After Stunning Micaletto Goal From Halfway Line

In the most chaotic game played this season, the Tampa Bay Rowdies battled adversity to leave Miami as victors with a 3-2 win. 

The Rowdies wasted no time taking the lead, as Russell Cicerone blasted a near-post effort past Miami FC goalkeeper Eloy Room with less than 10 minutes on the clock.

It was a perfect team goal, starting with Nathan Dossantos finding MD Myers, who shook off a defender and played an amazing outside-the-boot through ball to Cicerone. The ball was perfectly weighted, catching Cicerone mid-stride. 

The thing I noticed was that while Cicerone finished the chance, Pedro Dolabella was at the far-post, ready for a pass if needed. That is a level of intuition that you can not teach. 

Only a couple minutes later, the Rowdies lead doubled. MD Myers slipped a through ball to Sebastian Cruz at the halfway line, who had acres of space down the right wing. Cruz made it to the eighteen-yard box, and held the ball up. By this point, Myers had beat his marker, and received a hard hit pass from Cruz. Myers took a touch and fired the ball into the far-bottom corner. 

Another really well-worked team goal from the Rowdies. In both goals, the team just knew where everyone either was or where they were going to be. With the team struggling in front of net recently, this was much needed for the confidence of the Rowdies’ attack. 

Right before halftime, a mistimed challenge from Pedro Dolabella on Miami attacker Arney Rocha led to a penalty. Pedro went to clear the ball with a high boot, and took out Rocha in the process. 

Rocha earned and converted the penalty, sending the effort to keeper’s left side, with Jahmali Waite going to his right. 

Now into stoppage time of the 1st half, Isaiah LeFlore (who was on a yellow) pulled down Mason Tunbridge earning his second yellow of the night. This meant that Tampa Bay had to play the entire 2nd half down a player down. 

Despite being short-handed, the Rowdies played very well, constantly shelling Miami goalkeeper Eloy Room. Pedro Dolabella had a close chance that went wide, as well as a shot from MD Myers that was denied by the post.

In the 75th minute, Jürgen Locadia scored Miami’s second of the night after a sliding close range finish after a pullback cross. Locadia scored minutes after coming into the game, tying the game two all. 

At the 79th minute, Charlie Ostrem passed the ball to substitute Marco Micaletto at the midfield. Marco looked up, saw Eloy Room off his line and fired towards goal. Micaletto’s effort went in and ended up being the difference in the game. An incredible effort for his third goal of the season. 

The Rowdies found themselves in a prime chance to score. A cheeky pass from Karsen Henderlong set up MD Myers wide open. He had time to set up his shot, and fired it right at Room. What is incredibly frustrating about that miss is Marco Micaletto and Lewis Hilton were both at the back post wide open.

While MD Myers had a really good game, that miss feels inexcusable. He is wide open in front of the net, with the chance to double the lead being a player down. He just has to score. 

Regardless of the miss, Tampa Bay left Miami-Dade County with all three points. While a lot went wrong, a miracle goal secured the win. It’s one of those games where you take the win and move on. 

Around The League:

While the Rowdies won their game against Miami, Charleston and Detroit both lost their league games, with Louisville playing an International Friendly. 

Charleston traveled to Colorado Springs, suffering a last-second winner at the hands of Jonas Fjeldberg. The Battery had thought they were going to leave Weidner Field with a point after Wilmer Cabrera’s right-footed goal tied things up in the 80th minute. However, Fjeldberg’s near-post header in the 94th minute stole all three points in the last couple seconds of the game. 

Meanwhile in Michigan, Detroit City FC was hosting Las Vegas Lights FC. The only goal scored was in the 40th second of play. Oalex Anderson rounded Detroit keeper Carlos Herrera, and fired the ball past the City defenders on the goalline. 

The match finished 1-0 to the visitors, and Detroit dropped all three points at home.  

With Tampa Bay collecting all three points against Miami, they go eight points clear in the Eastern Conference. Charleston has 27 points in 2nd place, Detroit City also has 27 points, with 4th place Louisville City has 24 points. Pittsburgh has 23 points, Rhode Island FC has 22 points, with Indy and Miami sharing 21 points at the playoff line. Hartford sits outside the playoff bubble with 20 points, Loudoun United has 15 points, Birmingham has 14 points. Brooklyn has 13 points in 12th, and Sporting Jax continues to impress with 8 points in 18 games played. 

Up Next:

The Rowdies now look forward to their next opponent, Louisville City FC at Al Lang Stadium. 

The Rowdies and Louisville always delivers, and have given the Rowdies faithful memories to last a lifetime. Lucky’s header in the Eastern Conference Final, Damian Rivera’s last-second volley are just some of the examples. 

The Rowdies traveled to Kentucky earlier this season, with the Rowdies taking all three points after a stoppage-time goal from Max Schneider put the nail in the coffin. MD Myers scored earlier in the game after an impressive solo goal. 

The last time these clubs met, Louisville was struggling, but that is not the case anymore. After their loss to Tampa Bay, Louisville went on a 6-game unbeaten streak (including two USL cup matches) before losing 3-1 to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC from a Trevor Amann hat-trick, the fastest in USL history. 

Despite not playing a USL Championship match on Saturday, Louisville City hosted Trinidad and Tobago’s national team for an International Friendly. Lou City won the game, with the lone goal coming from Cameron Duke. 

Louisville will have a midweek match at home against Birmingham Legion FC. Hopefully this match will tire them out, but no matter what, they will not be at 100% for the Tampa Bay match. 

Louisville attacker Jansen Wilson has been in great form recently, scoring 4 goals in his last 3 competitive games. Given the struggles the Rowdie backline has had in recent games, they will need to be ready for the threats that Wilson provides.

I think it will be a very close game, and I don’t think either team will be able to find a winner. I am going with a 2-2 draw.