Collins Lifts Tampa Bay Rowdies to 1-0 Road Win over Strikers
Published on April 30, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
(Tampa Bay Rowdies)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Neill Collins gave the Rowdies a 1-0 win over the rival Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night, looping a header over Strikers goalkeeper Bruno Cardoso to give the Rowdies a win.
The road win was Tampa Bay's first in more than a calendar year, since a 3-1 win over the San Antonio Scorpions on opening day last year, April 4, 2015.
"It was crucial for us (to win tonight,)" Tampa Bay Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. "We were disappointed with our result last week, so we spoke about the importance of going out and getting three points. I didn't want to be going into a bye week looking back on a game full of negativity."
In a game where both teams took their fair share of shots and possession was split roughly down the middle, there was little to separate the Rowdies and Strikers. The teams split eight yellow cards in a feisty, physical encounter.
There were, of course, a few major things to separate the sides, namely Collins' goal and three saves by goalkeeper Matt Pickens to keep his third clean sheet in five matches to start the season.
After the match, Pickens spoke highly of the significance of Tampa Bay being able to grind out a win on a night when it didn't play anything close to its best match.
"If we're going to have any success this year, we're going to need play like that from me," Pickens said. "We're going to have to grind results out on the road 1-nil like we just did. It's a good character builder for our team early in the season and it'll be one of those ones we look back at five or 10 games from now where we look back at and say, 'Man, that was a turning point. We stuck our chests out and took the three points.'"
Collins, who joined the Rowdies in March from England's Sheffield United, has a history of scoring goals from his centerback spot. He scored 12 goals for the Blades in his time at Bramall Lane.
On the crucial play, Collins advanced forward for a set piece. Michael Nanchoff's intial delivery was cleared from the box by the Strikers, but the defender stayed forward for the follow-up play. That decision paid huge dividend as Eric Avila's long cross from the right found him in enough space on the 6-yard box.
Collins' header looped over Cardoso for the game-winning goal.
"I managed to get a really good header on hit and I was delighted to see it hit the back of the net," Collins said. "I think it's important that as a centerback, I try and contribute with a goal or two. It certainly means a lot to me and to the whole team that we were able to win tonight, on the road against a rival. To get a goal is an added bonus. Our performances have deserved more than we've gotten from the first few games, and hopefully that's started to turn around from us."
The win saw Tampa Bay move up to eight points on the season and into a third place in the standings, tied with the Indy Eleven.
Up next, Tampa Bay sits out its lone bye week of the NASL Spring Season. The Rowdies return to action at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, May 14 against Rayo OKC. For tickets, call (727) 222-2000.
Images from this story
 Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. the Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
North American Soccer League Stories from April 30, 2016
- Indy Eleven Wins Second Straight to Stay Unbeaten in Week 5 Action - NASL
- Indy Eleven Remains Undefeated with 2-1 Road Win at Rayo OKC - Indy Eleven
- Collins Lifts Tampa Bay Rowdies to 1-0 Road Win over Strikers - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Strikers Come up Short in Slim Defeat to Florida Rival - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Fury FC Triumphant in Return to TD Place - Ottawa Fury FC
- Miami FC Fall 2-0 to Ottawa Fury - Miami FC
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