Match Preview: #BSTvTBR
June 21, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
The Basics
Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Saturday, June 22, 5 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast online on ESPN+ here. International viewers can watch online here.
Records
Bethlehem: 4-7-4 (W-L-T), 10th place; 2-5-3 at home
Tampa Bay: 8-1-6 (W-L-T), 1st place; 4-0-2 on road
Rowdies Notes
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have seen their cushion at the top of the Eastern Conference standings slip to just one point following a loss and a draw in their last two matches. Tampa Bay conceded a late goal to Charleston in the 88th minute of last week's match to drop two points in a 1-1 draw.
Sebastian Guenzatti scored his team-high seventh goal of the season last week to put the Rowdies ahead in the 39th minute. He scored five goals last season and was Tampa Bay's leading returning scorer. He has started every USL Championship match this season.
Flipping a trend from recent seasons on its head, the Rowdies have actually been much better away from Al Lang Stadium this season than at home. Tampa Bay has averaged 2.33 points per game on the road with a record of 4-0-2 (W-L-T), compared to 1.78 points per game at home. The Rowdies were 4-10-3 away from home last season and 3-6-7 in 2017.
The Rowdies will be without midfielder Dom Oduro this week while he serves a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation. This is Oduro's second suspension of the season. He previously missed the win over Swope Park on May 25 after being red carded May 18. He has played in every league match this season for which he was not suspended.
More than one-fifth of the Rowdies roster has previously played for the Philadelphia Union or Bethlehem Steel in their careers. Goalkeepers Chris Konopka and John McCarthy, midfielder Leo Fernandes and forward Antoine Hoppenot were all on the Union roster at some point, while forward Brandon Allen started last season with Bethlehem on a USL contract.
After a lengthy injury layoff, Yann Ekra returned to action last week with a 10-minute cameo off the bench against the Battery. It was his first action since sustaining an ankle injury in training on April 20. Prior to his injury, Ekra has featured in all six matches of the season.
Injury Report
DOUBTFUL - Jaime Siaj (quad strain)
QUESTIONABLE - Leo Fernandes (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE - Andrew Tinari (groin)
PROBABLE - Shawn Barry (ribs)
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