Away Loss to LouCity Review

Date: Saturday June 7, 2025

Result: Louisville City 2-1 Tampa Bay

Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (5 pts 1W-2D-8L); Louisville City FC (25 pts 7W-4D-0L)

Standings: The Rowdies are 12th in the East and LouCity stayed 2nd. 

An away trip to Louisville is never easy. This is especially true when they’re tied for first in the Eastern Conference and the league overall. The Rowdies did themselves no favors early on with their poor play in possession. Despite that, the second half looked better. While they couldn’t find an equalizer, fans have to at least note that progress appears to be taking place. As we’ve stated on the RBLR Rowdies show: baby steps. Baby steps will get us out of this. 

It could’ve been worse, right? 

Because soccer is such an old game, there are many cliches around the sport. One that springs to mind for this past weekend is: it’s a game of two halves. From a first half that at times looked dismal, the visitors turned it on in the second and then looked the better side for stretches. This is no small feat for the team bottom of the table taking on league leaders. 

As stated, though, it did not start particularly well. The Rowdies began the game with very high pressure on the LouCity backline when the latter had possession. This didn’t last more than a couple minutes. Afterwards, the home side were able to comfortably pass the ball around. It would ultimately be Tampa Bay’s undoing early on as well. 

When Louisville scored their first goal, the boys in purple were able to sing the ball from one side to the other. It landed with the opposite side wingback, and Aiden McFadden’s own ball into the Rowdies’ six yard box was effectively unchallenged. Striker Phillip Goodrum then chested it over the line and Tampa Bay’s defense was left to raise their hands up, looking for an offside. 

That call never came. Thereafter, the dynamics from the first roughly five minutes were completely switched. Louisville were the ones pressing the Green and Gold when they had possession. The Rowdies only proved they couldn’t handle it, giving the ball away over and over. One of those instances led to the second goal, which would turn out to be the game winner.

The visitors got a goal back before halftime; but, they were never particularly close to making it level. After the break, things started to look a little better. The introduction of two players in the 55th minute really helped the Green and Gold look good. Luis Alvarez is a genuine new signing, while Lewis Hilton practically is after playing fewer than three games so far in 2025. 

Luis and Lewis brought a new energy to the field, and the difference was palpable. Nick Moon went off and Thomas Vancaeyezeele moved to the right side. Alvarez played where Ollie Bassett had previously, meaning Leo Fernandes slid out to the right side of the attack. There was good play through the midfield between all of these men for the rest of the game. 

It was unfortunate that the Rowdies were mostly held to good chances from set pieces throughout the second half. However, it’s an absolute certainty that better passing and movement characterized that second 45 minutes. Hilton’s return from injury was always going to be critical to this team. The staff now have to make sure not to run him into the ground. 

Sorting out the best formation to get all of Tampa Bay’s most dangerous players on the field will be interesting. Leo and Luis did well on either side of the team’s top scorer Woobens Pacius. Manuel Arteaga came off the bench as well to add another option. Perhaps the former two could play behind the latter two with Hilton deepest. But, managing his minutes will still be necessary for some time.

RBLR Man of the Match: 

James: Lewis Hilton

Carlos: 

RBLR Sports Predictions Standings:

Carlos: 2

James: 12

Yurika: 9