Tampa Bay Sun Weekly – 2-1 L vs DC Power
Date: Sunday November 1, 2026
Result: Tampa Bay 2-1 DC
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (9 pts 2W-3D-5L); DC Power FC (17 pts 5W-2D-3L)
Standings: The Sun are 7th in the USL Super League and DC are 2nd.
Once more, some decisions did not go the Sun’s way – and, once more, the Sun came up short. It’s a difficult truth to swallow that try as you might, the best laid plans still may not work. The team, in their post game presser, was adamant they are talented and should have done what they needed to win. The belief that they are on the verge of doing what’s necessary will be tested once more against a local rival, one with whom they have a positive history.
How did this game fall apart for Tampa Bay?
In talking to both players and the manager after the game, the takeaway was that the Sun did not play poorly. In this case, their opinion was that they were unlucky to not get the result. It was also stated that this was something that had happened in a few other recent games, with Denise Schilte-Brown saying the only recent poor performance was the second half against Brooklyn.
Unfortunately, in a low scoring game like soccer, luck can play an outsized role. In this particular case, too, it helped DC with both of their goals. Before we discuss those goals, it is important to see if what came out of the press conference was generally correct. Is it true Tampa Bay played well? Did they deserve more out of this game, if not possibly out of a couple games?
In the first half, the visitors did not create many chances. Mostly contained, they resorted to pop shots from farther out, which Cristina Roque ate up. The Sun actually created a couple of their own chances, failing to score despite putting themselves in good positions on multiple occasions. As the saying goes, if you don’t score, you’re leaving it open for the other team.
DC then got the first of their two big lucky breaks on the night. Shortly before halftime, the Power got the ball seemingly as high up the field as they had all night. A cross was not properly dealt with, and it fell to DC striker Loza Abera. The issue was how she put the ball in the net. Everyone in the Tampa Bay defense immediately called to the ref to pull that one back.
What happened? From this writer’s perspective – literally behind the net – the ball was pushed over the line by Abera’s hand. Neither the center ref nor the linesman saw this, and the goal stood. Whether or not VAR could have helped is unknown. But, what happened on the field is the Sun went down a goal despite what was a very blatant handball.
In the second half, the Sun had to go for it and try to make up the difference. They were a little more attacking, leaving themselves vulnerable at times. However, DSB added some muscle to the midfield while also building the attack with some subs halfway through. All three of those subs combined later on when Tampa Bay began what looked like a comeback.
Dasia Torbert switched the ball to Jordan Zade, who carried it down the right wing before crossing it back into the box. Tori Zierenberg was waiting there and poked it past the DC goalkeeper. At 1-1 late on, it looked in that moment that if either side was going to win, it would be the Sun with their building momentum and reinforcements who could do it.
Instead, some sloppy play on the wing led to a throw in for DC, which they took quickly. Alyssa Walker received the ball, turned, and saw Roque a little way off her line. From just about 25 yards out, with the help of football lines on the field to tell us, she chipped the Sun keeper. DSB would get a yellow card for complaining about another alleged handball from DC in the buildup.
Player of the Game:
Liz: Zierenberg
JD: Zierenberg
Date: Friday November 6 at 7:30 pm at Beyond Bancard Field
Upcoming Game: Fort Lauderdale vs. Tampa Bay
Can we win this?
After reading all that, it may seem like the Sun were hard done by in their last match against DC. One handball was undeniable; two seems unbelievable. For them both to be involved in buildup to direct goals is just cruel, especially when the Sun have had multiple goals called back recently, which Schilte-Brown pointed out in the press conference as well.
Despite all that, it was the manager herself who pointed out that fans are likely sick of hearing how good the Sun are and how unlucky they’ve been. If the team is this good, why aren’t they scoring? If they are so good, shouldn’t at least one of these games have been a draw instead of four straight losses? Bad luck is understandable; but, this is getting to be hard to swallow.
Well, there is good news on the horizon. While the last four losses have left the team languishing outside the playoff positions and down in seventh place, their opponent happens to be the team in eighth. Not only that, but history may have something to say: in ten official matches (and eleven with a preseason encounter), the Sun have never lost to Fort Lauderdale.
They met back in September at the Riverfront Stadium in Tampa, with the home side taking yet another win away from FLOOTD – one of only two wins this short season. If ever there was a good team to play when you’re in a rut, it seems like that would be Fort Lauderdale. They have two fewer draws as well as a markedly worse goal differential so far this year.
The Sun players believe in themselves. This is positive, and hopefully it is not misplaced. Scoring has been a real issue for Tampa Bay. This is one of the best opportunities to turn that around. They’ve only scored twice in their last four games – and three in their last five. Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale have given up 19 goals in their 11 games played.
These are good odds for more chances. Creation is the key. There were two opportunities DSB said the team would’ve wanted back from their game against DC. This Friday they have a match in which they should expect to have a lot more chances so these misses would not have as big an impact. Take advantage of the luck of your schedule and turn things around.
On the defensive side, Fort Lauderdale are also struggling to score. They have only notched seven in their 11 games, also the worst across the league. Assuming the Sun are generally happy with their work on the backline, this should be a game they feel they can get a shutout. After such an unlucky loss against DC, it would be another huge boost of confidence.
Including the match with FLOOTD, there are only four games left until the playoffs begin. If there was ever a time to say it’s do or die – and after many other similar situations last month – Tampa Bay need to knuckle down. Three points here would put them back in the race to make a playoff spot. Even a draw is going to put them in a position of extreme need to stay alive.
They then host the next three games, against Dallas, Brooklyn, and Sporting Jax. Each of these teams is right around midtable, where the Sun will likely end up if they stay in the playoff race. So, this one against Fort Lauderdale needs to be a springboard into the future they want to see. Grab the game by the scruff of the neck, and turn your luck around.
RBLR Score Predictions:
Liz: 1-0 W
JD: 2-0 W
Yurika: 1-0 W
James: 3-0 W
RBLR Score Predictions Standings:
Liz: 4
JD: 1
Yurika: 7
James: 4
