First Home Game Preview: The HYPENNING vs LDN
Date: Saturday April 12, 2025
Kickoff Time: 7:30 pm EST at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (3 pts 1W-0D-3L); Loudoun United FC (12 pts 4W-0D-1L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 9th in the East and Loudoun are first – as well as first overall.
Nothing that preceded the Rowdies’ match this weekend in 2025 matters. This is when the season really gets going. While their opponent is stronger than might’ve been expected before the season started, it should be remembered: no games before this weekend mattered. Get yourself to Al Lang, bring a friend, bring your family. JUST MAKE SURE YOU’RE THERE!
HOW DO WE MAKE THIS HYPE?
This upcoming weekend, for the first time since September, the Rowdies will host a game at Al Lang Stadium. During that stretch, two hurricanes hit Florida, knocking out their home grounds as a viable venue, in addition to other destruction more visible and more personal for residents all over the area. It was a tougher time off the pitch than on it, which surely impacted the team.
Now back in familiar surroundings, with home fans able to come take part in the gameday again, Tampa Bay’s first professional soccer club is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary year. Back in 1975, the Rowdies got their start, playing at a stadium that no longer exists, lingering on despite their league imploding, until finally succumbing in the 90s.
After returning in 2010, and playing the first few years in a baseball stadium that had not been retrofitted in Tampa, the team name and colors are back in the modern era, carrying on the legacy of those original players. Many of them moved into coaching, some even with the team. With promotional events throughout 2025 bridging that gap in time, this weekend marks the start of what is sure to be an incredible year at Al Lang.
But, it’s not all pomp and circumstance in St. Pete. There is still soccer to be played, this weekend against the best club in the Championship, according to the standings. Although Loudoun United are partly owned by DC United in MLS, and although several of their players are from the academy of that club, the Virginian side have shown themselves to be formidable lately.
Loudoun have played seven games so far in 2025, five in the league and two in the US Open Cup. Only one of those was a loss, which came away to Louisville City – hardly anyone’s idea of an easy fixture. What’s worse is last year, when United were not this good, they beat the Rowdies in both of their meetings. Those six points severely hurt the team in the playoff race.
The team is not that much changed since 2024 in truth. Many of the same faces are still with Loudoun, some getting more playing time as their form demands. One of those is Abdellatif Aboukoura. The Egyptian youth international has four goals and one assist this year. That’s already only one goal away from his tally for all of last season.
His guile on the left wing, combined with interchange from Florian Valot at the #10 and Ben Mines on the right, has worked wonders. Up top, Zach Ryan is as hard working as ever, even if it’s only earned him one goal so far. Jacob Erlandson and Yanis Leerman have partnered at the back and should again this weekend, with the latter returning from a suspension.
Those two have a solid understanding after a few years in the USL Championship between them. Keegan Tingey and Kwame Awuah at fullback have also done well while Tommy McCabe has shone so far in a deeper position in midfield. Formerly a ragtag group of youngsters, they are now all closer to seasoned veterans, with nous beyond their combined years.
The Rowdies will need to be on their game to win this one. Not only are they still tinkering with a formation after the first four games of the season, they are also dealing with the potential for injuries. Forrest Lasso and Leo Fernandes haven’t seen the field yet, while Nick Moon started against Charleston and was taken off before ten minutes. It seems the tinkering will continue.
Now, then, is the occasion – for some revenge, for some pride, for some focus and grit. If fans thought those last year’s losses were unacceptable, it’s only a matter of guessing what the staff made of things. A chance for redemption on Saturday, a chance to display what this club is all about, and a chance to make some new fans attending their first ever game want more. So, no pressure, then?
Score Predictions from the RBLR Rowdies Podcast:
Carlos: 3-1 W
James: 2-0 W
Yurika: 2-1 W
