Match Preview: #TBRvCLT
April 26, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Charlotte Independence
Saturday, April 27, 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
Tickets
Tickets for Saturday's match are available by calling (727) 222-2000 or clicking here. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m., 60 minutes before kickoff.
Headband Giveaway
All fans will receive a free Tampa Bay Rowdies headband while supplies last.
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast online on ESPN+ here. International viewers can watch online here.
Records
Tampa Bay: 4-0-3 (W-L-T), 1st place; 2-0-2 at home
Charlotte: 1-5-1 (W-L-T), 16th place; 0-2-0 on road
Rowdies Notes
The Tampa Bay Rowdies return home following an emphatic 4-1 road win over Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday night. The Rowdies fell behind in the 34th minute and then rallied for four unanswered goals to move to first place in the Eastern Conference.
The Rowdies are the last remaining unbeaten team in the East and lead the entire USL Championship with a goal difference of +10. No other team has a goal difference better than +6.
Tampa Bay was a little shorthanded Wednesday night with four players sidelined due to injury. Malik Johnson (shoulder), Jaime Siaj (quad), Shawn Barry (ankle) and Yann Ekra (ankle) all missed out. None of those four are expected to be available Saturday night against the Independence. In addition to those four absences, the Rowdies were also without forward Antoine Hoppenot, who served a one-game suspension. He had started the previous three matches. He is eligible to return against the Independence.
With those five players unavailable, Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins made three changes to his starting lineup and adjusted the tactics slightly. The center midfield triangle was flipped with two defensive midfielders playing behind Andrew Tinari under the strikers. Jordan Doherty and David Najem each made their first starts of the season, while Juan Tejada made his second start.
Tampa Bay's starting lineup Wednesday night averaged just 24.1 years old, likely the youngest starting lineup ever fielded by the Rowdies. That stat was aided by Doherty (18), Caleb Richards (20) and Tejada (22.)
Leo Fernandes had his best game of the season against Atlanta, scoring his first goal of the year and adding a pair of assists. He now has a team-high four assists this season, tied for second-most in the USL Championship.
Juan Tejada and Brandon Allen each scored their first goal of the season late in the match. Tejada's goal was his first-ever professional goal. Allen's goal was his first for the Rowdies and came just 31 seconds after he came off the bench as a substitute.
Injury Report
OUT: F Malik Johnson (separated shoulder)
OUT: F Jaime Siaj (quad strain)
DOUBTFUL: D Shawn Barry (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: M Yann Ekra (ankle)
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