Match Preview: #NYvTBR
July 25, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) - Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
The Basics
New York Red Bulls II vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Friday, July 26, 7 p.m. ET
MSU Soccer Park, Montclair, N.J.
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast online on ESPN+ here.
Records
Tampa Bay: 12-1-7 (W-L-T), 1st place; 6-0-3 on road
New York: 11-4-5 (W-L-T), 2nd place; 8-2-2 at home
Last Meeting
Juan Tejada scored a brace as the Rowdies knocked off New York 2-0 at Al Lang Stadium on May 18, lifting Tampa Bay into first place. The Rowdies played the final 18 minutes down a man after Dom Oduro was red carded, but allowed only two shots on target.
Rowdies Notes
The Tampa Bay Rowdies head to New Jersey for a heavyweight showdown and potential playoff preview following a 4-1 win over Saint Louis FC at home last weekend. Sebastian Guenzatti (2), Leo Fernandes and Caleb Richards all scored in the win as the Rowdies extended their lead at the top of the table.
This is the second time this season that the Rowdies and Red Bulls have met in a first place vs. second place matchup. New York came to St. Petersburg in first place on May 18 but left in second place following a 2-0 Rowdies win. The Rowdies have been in first place ever since, apart from a three-day stretch when they fell to second place behind the Indy Eleven on a tiebreaker.
Sebastian Guenzatti leads the team in scoring with 12 goals, good for second-best in the league. He scored twice in three minutes last week and also added an assist to earn his third Team of the Week recognition of this season.
Tampa Bay has received a big boost since acquiring Lucky Mkosana in a trade with Louisville City FC on June 28. Mkosana has scored once and added two assist in 127 minutes with the Rowdies since the trade. He previously played for the Rowdies in 2013 and 2014. He had four goals for Louisville before the trade.
Forward Jaime Siaj made his season debut for the Rowdies last weekend after finally recovering from a series of muscular injuries.
Tampa Bay's early season success was spurred by an airtight defense that kept nine clean sheets in the first 13 matches of the season. Since then, the Rowdies have conceded in seven consecutive matches. Still, Tampa Bay has only conceded 13 goals in total this season, tied for the second-fewest in the Championship. Indy has only conceded 12 goals but it has played two fewer matches.
Flipping a trend from recent seasons on its head, the Rowdies have actually been 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 6-0-3 (W-L-T), compared to 2 points per game at home. Tampa Bay's six road wins this season are a new Modern Era (2010-present) record.
Injury Report
QUESTIONABLE - Andrew Tinari (groin)
• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 25, 2019
- Match Preview vs. RGV FC Toros - Las Vegas Lights FC
- Republic FC Academy Forward Rafael Jauregui Called Up to U.S. Under-15 Boys' National Team - Sacramento Republic FC
- Preview: Nashville SC Takes the Pitch at Nissan Stadium against Indy Eleven on Saturday - Nashville SC
- OCSC Host Sacramento Republic for Second Annual Beerfest - Orange County SC
- North Carolina FC Returns Home to Face Atlanta United 2 on Saturday - North Carolina FC
- STLFC Signs Academy Player Nikiphoros Vlastos to Professional Contract - Saint Louis FC
- Match Preview: #NYvTBR - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Foxes Sign Former U-23s Midfielder Suleiman Samura - Fresno FC
- Championship Look Ahead - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Orange County Gets Hot to Stop Reno 1868 - Orange County SC
- Hackworth Focused on Early Intensity - Louisville City FC
- El Paso Locomotive FC Continues Development of Youth Soccer in the Borderland Region - El Paso Locomotive FC
- Guenzatti Named to Championship Team of the Week - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Indy Eleven Becomes First Professional Soccer Club to Partner with Learfield IMG College Ticket Solutions - Indy Eleven
- Nashville SC Acquires Forrest Lasso on Loan from FC Cincinnati - Nashville SC
- Late wonder goal undoes Republic FC's second-half comeback - Sacramento Republic FC
- Tacoma Defiance Earns 4-1 Home Victory over Las Vegas Lights FC - Tacoma Defiance
- Lights FC Lose Tough Road Battle at Tacoma - Las Vegas Lights FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
