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USL Tampa Bay Rowdies

Matchday 20 Preview: Rowdies at Loudoun United

July 15, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release


Matchday 20 Info:

Tampa Bay Rowdies at Loudoun United FC

Saturday, July 16, 7:30 p.m. ET

Segra Field, Leesburg, VA

Watch: Fans can stream the match on ESPN+.

Follow Along: Live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday

Unbeaten in nine straight matches, the Tampa Bay Rowdies this weekend for their first meeting against Loudoun United FC of the season. The Rowdies posted a win in all four meetings with Loudoun last year, but that doesn't mean Head Coach Neill Collins will be viewing Loudoun as a push over this weekend.

The Rowdies have been on the losing end of just one road result this season, and the club is eager to maintain their edge away from home by sticking to their principles.

"I think Loudoun's always a very difficult game," said Collins. "Every game on the road is difficult, but Loudoun have got a really good style of play, a very attacking style of play. Any coach that watches them and has to play against them knows they will cause you different problems. We're looking at, how do we cause them problems? How do we defend and keep building on the things that we've done very well? Because we have done a lot of things quite well."

Resilient Rowdies

Winning on the road sometimes requires some grit to pull through when the performance level might not be quite up to snuff. Grit is exactly what the Rowdies showed in last week's 3-2 comeback win at Hartford Athletic Despite going down a man after Jordan Scarlett's red card at the start of stoppage time, the Rowdies looked the more dangerous side and were able to capitalize with a Leo Fernandes penalty in the final seconds.

Tampa Bay's 14 points earned after falling behind in a match is a league-best this year.

"Resiliency is huge," said Fernandes. "I think we've had some difficulty in the past going down a goal and then trying to come back. I think this has been one of the real positives of this group, just to show everyone that even if we do go down a goal, we have what it takes to come back to tie the game and even win."

"Pivotal" Returners

Three Rowdies players returned from extended absences to feature for the Rowdies in last week's win at Hartford. While none of them ended up on the scoresheet, they all played "pivotal" roles for the Rowdies in the result, according to Collins. Steevan Dos Santos caused the turnover that led to the first goal and drew the penalty for the second tally. Meanwhile substitutes Jake Areman and Dayonn Harris aided the Rowdies with a late surge in stoppage time, and Harris was the one to earn the penalty that led to the match-winner.

"When you look at Jake Areman and Dayonn Harris, we've said the last two or three weeks that if we'd had them available, especially off the bench, they would've had big impacts on the game," said Collins. "Obviously the team's performed really well, but I'm look at how we can go on and sustain that throughout a game, including the second half. In Hartford they came on and really helped us manage to go on and get three points."

Fernandes Win Player of the Month

On Thursday, Rowdies veteran playmaker Leo Fernandes was named USL Championship Player of the Month after notching five goals in five appearances to help the Rowdies remain unbeaten in June. With nine goals already on the season, Fernandes has already surpassed his previous best single-season tally. The longest tenured Rowdies player, Fernandes four assists are also tied with midfielder Lewis Hiton for most on the squad.

Staying in the Family to Find Depth

With Jordan Scarlett suspended for the weekend and Conner Antley still questionable after picking up a knock against Memphis two weeks ago, the Rowdies found depth within the family. This week, the club signed Conner Antley's twin brother Ian Antley to 25-day contract to fill the gap.

Ian Antley attended Mercer university with Conner and also gained experience with Seattle Sounders U-23s and the Birmingham Hammers before signing with the Richmond Kickers in 2020. Ian's second season in Richmond was cut short with a knee injury in April of 2021. The Rowdies have become familiar with Ian over the last month while the 27-year-old defender has been training with the squad regularly over the last month.

"Ian obviously suffered a serious injury last season," said Collins. "It's unfortunate for him at this stage in this career. He's come back and I think anyone that's been through injury like that knows you might feel fit and be clear to play, but it just takes a little bit of time to get back to match fitness.

"I think over the last month we've seen Ian do really well in training. In these circumstances, right in the middle of the season, when you've got Jordan Scarlett suspended and a couple of players carrying bumps and bruises. When you've got someone who has shown a real desire to be here by training, it's great to give them the opportunity that the short term contract allows and I wouldn't hesitate to use Ian if we needed him

Upcoming Milestones

Sebastian Guenzatti is two goals away from breaking the Rowdies all-time scoring record of 60 goals held by Georgi Hristov.

Guenzatti is 4 appearances away from his 150th appearances for the Rowdies. He currently ranks second in the modern era in appearances.

Lucky Mkosana is 4 appearances away from his 100th appearance for the Rowdies.

Keeper CJ Cochran is two clean sheets away from his 30th shutout in the USL Championship.

Injury Report:

OUT: Robert Castellanos

QUESTIONABLE: Lucky Mkosana, Conner Antley

SUSPENDED: Jordan Scarlett (red card)

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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.

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