Late Drama at Segra Field Has Rowdies Drop Points in Loudoun
Tampa Bay Rowdies and Loudoun United FC split the points after a 1-1 draw in Segra Field.
In the first couple of minutes, Loudoun United carried the momentum, requiring Rowdies goalkeeper Jahmali Waite to spring into action on multiple occasions to keep the score even.
After a complete defensive collapse in the Rowdies’ goalie box, including a give away and a botched clearance, a last-ditch tackle from Nathan Dossantos onto former Rowdie Pacifique Niyongabire saved the Rowdies from a very good Loudoun opportunity.
On the counterattack, quick passing downfield eventually found Evan Conway, who played it to MD Myers. Myers fired it past former Rowdies goalie Ethan Bandré, giving the Rowdies the lead. However, the goal was called back for a foul Myers committed in the buildup, meaning the score remained 0-0. It was a quality finish from Myers, blasting it to Bandré’s near post, right in the top corner.
In the 19th minute, after a Sebastian Cruz throw-in, a cross was aimed at Pedro Dolabella who was taken down by Niyongabire in the Loudoun eighteen-yard box, resulting in the referee pointing to the spot. Pedro was in his dangerous spot in the back post. He always seems to create chaos there, and his goal against Rhode Island FC proves that.
Dolabella stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly converted it to give the Green and Gold the lead in the first half. He went to his right side, with Bandré guessing the right way as well. Dolabella perfectly placed his effort, just evading the reach of the Loudoun shotstopper.
Dolabella taking the penalty is really interesting. Russell Cicerone has been the penalty taker for the team, but hasn’t had a great record so far. He missed a penalty against Philadelphia Union in preseason, and missed another one against Lexington SC in league play this month.
MD Myers converted the penalty he earned against Brooklyn FC and he was on the field for the opportunity in this Loudoun game. It makes me curious as to why Pedro took the penalty, as both Cicerone and Myers had taken penalties previously. However, it doesn’t matter now as Pedro tucked his penalty away very nicely.
Loudoun United had a couple more decent chances in the latter half of the first 45 minutes, but were unable to get anything past Jahmali Waite.
Shortly after halftime, Tampa Bay thought they had found their second of the match. Max Schneider found a leaping Yanis Leerman, who redirected the shot on-target. Louis Perez was on the line, technically offside, and the ball bounced off him before going in the net. This meant the goal did not stand, and the Rowdies stayed ahead by only one goal.
Both teams traded shots throughout the second half, with neither team being able to find a goal.
The Rowdies eventually did concede. Loudoun substitute Arquímides Ordóñez gave the Rowdies a lot of trouble after being substituted on halfway through the second half. Ordóñez slipped past Leerman, and fired a low shot which was parried by Waite. Unfortunately, the parry was right to Loudoun striker Thorleifur Úlfarsson, who converted the rebounded effort.
The Rowdies had a chance to take the lead again off a set-piece, which found its way to Charlie Ostrem. Ostrem rushed the shot from about twelve yards out, which went sailing over the crossbar.
The Rowdies got another chance in stoppage time, with substitute Karsen Henderlong’s header hitting the woodwork, denying Tampa Bay the chance to steal all three points at the last second.
The action was not over yet, as a minute later on the other end, Loudoun were trying to find their stoppage time winner. Ordóñez received the ball after a well-placed header, and collided with Tampa Bay sub Gennaro Nigro. The ref called a foul on Ordóñez, and play was halted.
Personally, I don’t think it was a foul, same with the original MD Myers goal. Unfortunately, the first foul set the precedent that any contact in the box won you the foul. The same can even be said about the Pedro Dolabella penalty. There are refs in the USL who would have gave the “play on” to all three challenges.
Despite the frantic stoppage time chances, neither team found their winner. The teams remained deadlocked, and the clubs shared the points.
Around The League
Thankfully for the Rowdies, Louisville City FC and Charleston Battery both dropped points.
Louisville City FC travelled to Pennsylvania to face Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Pittsburgh scored three goals in five minutes right after the start of the 2nd half. Trevor Amann scored an impressive hat-trick, the fastest in USL Championship history. A complete collapse from the Louisville City defense. Jansen Wilson pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot, but Lou City were unable to overcome such a deficit. Louisville City drop points in the league again, and Pittsburgh now sit one point behind Louisville in the USL Eastern Conference.
The other important game was Charleston Battery hosting Sacramento Republic FC at Patriots Point. Former Rowdies Manager Neill Collins’ side took the lead shortly after halftime, with Forster Ajago’s overhead kick breaking the deadlock for Sacramento. Ajago wasn’t done taking headlines, as he later received a red card for violent conduct. Slightly before the red card, Battery striker Colton Swan was taken down in the box. Emilio Ycaza converted the spot kick, and tied the match with a little under twenty minutes to go. Despite Sacramento being down to ten men, they didn’t concede again. The match ended all square, and Charleston only take a point from the match.
Despite the draw, Tampa Bay still sits in 1st place of the USL Championship Eastern Conference with 32 points. Charleston Battery and Detroit City FC are tied with 27 points. 4th place Louisville City sits behind them with 24 points, and Pittsburgh with 23 points. Indy Eleven and Miami FC are tied with 21 points, while Hartford and Rhode Island are tied with 19 points. 10th place Birmingham have 14 points, Brooklyn FC has 13 points, and Loudoun United FC have 12 points. Last place Sporting Jax has 8 points, missing their chance to have a two-game win streak after bottling a two-goal lead against Brooklyn FC.
Up Next
The Rowdies travel to the 305 to face Miami for the second time this season, with the first being a 4-1 hammering from the Green and Gold in the USL Cup.
A Louis Perez wonder strike, an MD Myers double, and a close-range Max Schneider volley all contributed to taking the points from Miami. Mason Tunbridge pulled one back for the hosts, but it was too little too late.
The Rowdies are looking to pick back up in their league form, after dropping points in 4 of their last 5 USL Championship matches. The run of form includes the 4-1 Lexington SC battering on July 4th, which successfully ruined every Rowdies fan’s holiday.
Miami themselves have been in decent form now that their two World Cup players are back, striker Jürgen Locadia and goalkeeper Eloy Room. Both represented Curaçao at the World Cup, with Room getting international praise and attention for his impressive performance against Ecuador. Room set the 90-minute record for saves with 15 at the World Cup, and being second with most amount of saves in a World Cup match.
With Locadia and Room back in the lineup, Miami FC smashed Sarasota Paradise 5-0 in their final USL Cup game to claim the Wild Card spot, and won convincingly 2-0 against Indy Eleven.
I definitely think Room is the player to watch out for. While the Rowdies scored four on him in May, I am nervous that with this new confidence Room has, it could be a tough match for the Tampa Bay attack.
Miami FC has to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midweek at Weidner Field, so hopefully the Rowdies can use that to their advantage.
I am going for a 2-1 win for the Rowdies. I do not think it will be pretty, but I believe that this team will be able to escape Miami-Dade with all three points.
