Rowdie Reflections: a Higher Standard to Meet After an Historic Start
June 6, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
The Tampa Bay Rowdies fell short of matching the USL Championship's record for consecutive wins to start a season on Saturday night, losing out to the Charlotte Independence 1-0 on the road.
Records were the farthest thing from their minds following their first loss of the year, though.
"The USL record, I don't think half the players will know about that," said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. "I think they would've been thinking of winning tonight for the enjoyment of winning and the satisfaction of that, taking us up the table. I think it was an off-night for just too many guys and an off-night for the team. We've not had many like that the last few months, even going back into last season. It's been eight straight wins folding on from last season. I'm not gonna say I'm gonna give them too much leeway, because you can get beaten and think it just wasn't your night. I don't think that was the case. I think it was a below par performance."
Despite the loss, the Rowdies remain at the top of the Atlantic Division standings, five points up on Hartford Athletic and six ahead of Charlotte. It's been a historically good start for the Rowdies, one that has set up on solid ground as the season ramps up in the summer and one that any team would take without hesitation.
"Five out of six to start the season, when we look at some of the players we've had out, is a good start, but we're looking for great. I think we'll look back at tonight and look at it as an opportunity missed."
Squad Rotation
Saturday was the first time the Rowdies faced a match on short rest and Collins made several changes to the starting lineup in order to meet the challenge. Newcomers Dayonn Harris and Matt Srbely, as well as veteran midfielder Yann Ekra, all earned their first starts of the year. Meanwhile, regulars Leo Fernandes and Conner Antley started on the bench after Wednesday's match in New York.
Charlotte came out ready to cede possession and absorb any pressure from Rowdies. Their plan worked, as the Rowdies finished with 61 percent of the possession but struggled to find ways into the final third and threaten on goal.
Forward Sebastian Guenzatti started again and went the full 90 minutes. The Rowdies captain continues to carry much of the load up top as the Rowdies work through injuries among the attacking corps. Strikers Lucky Mkosana, Steevan Dos Santos and Juan Tejada are all out with injuries. Forward Foster Langsodrf arrived just this week on loan from Minnesota United FC, but it will take him some time to work up to full fitness as he hasn't started in a match since October of last year. The continued absence of Luiz Fernando and the attacking option he would offer out of the midfield also hinders the Rowdies a bit
Still, Collins believes the squad he has at his disposal is capable of picking up points in situations like the one faced in Charlotte.
"Having those back to back games, I think we're equipped to deal with it," he said. "There's no question having four or five guys missing through injury can take its toll, but I still think the starting XI, with the way the game panned out, it was still there for us. It was there for us but we didn't go and grasp it. Charlotte were well organized and had a plan. We played right into that. It'll be a tough one to learn from."
Louro's Heroics
The Rowdies were one moment away from taking a point back home thanks in large part to keeper Evan Louro making two pivotal saves, including a penalty stop two minutes before halftime. Louro also got his fingertips to Charlotte's first penalty attempt, but only pushed it wide enough to clip the inside of the post. Charlotte would have sealed the match in the 79th minute if not for Louro's denial of Dane Kelly's volley effort from the top of the box.
Louro has come through in several big moments for the Rowdies during their two-match road trip. His two clutch saves in the 90th minute against New York likely saved the Rowdies from coming way with just a point that night.
"Evan's penalty save was excellent, and he made an excellent save in the second half as well," said Collins. "Evan's been in good form this season, carrying on from where he left off last year. I don't think we'd use the penalties as any excuse toward the result because I think they missed a great chance just prior to the penalty. I've not had the chance to look at them back, but my instant reaction was they were both very soft penalties and really poor decisions. But that's the last thing that cost us tonight. It wasn't the referee. It was ourselves. We could've played our way through those decisions. Evan Louro takes a lot of credit out of the last two games, as he does the first six games."
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 6, 2021
- Legion FC Beats Tulsa, Reclaims Top Spot in Central Division - Birmingham Legion FC
- Birmingham Legion FC Edges FC Tulsa 2-1 - FC Tulsa
- Atlanta United 2 Wins 1-0 vs. Louisville City FC - Atlanta United 2
- LouCity's Attack Sputters in Loss to Atlanta United 2 - Louisville City FC
- Austin Bold FC Claim First Away Victory of 2021 with 1-0 Win over Pittsburgh - Austin Bold FC
- Austin Scores Only Goal to Snap Hounds' Winning Streak - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Amoh's Hat Trick Gives Toros a 4-2 Win over Miami - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- Miami FC Announces Signing of Baggio Kcira - Miami FC
- Looking Back: the Riverhound Who Beat the U.S. - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Three Takeaways from #SACvOC - Sacramento Republic FC
- Rowdie Reflections: a Higher Standard to Meet After an Historic Start - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- SRFC fall to SoCal club at Heart Health Park - Sacramento Republic FC
- Phoenix Rising Stuns San Diego Loyal SC with Two Stoppage-Time Goals to Draw, 2-2 at Wild Horse Pass - Phoenix Rising FC
- Tacoma Falls to Las Vegas 2-0 in First Loss of the Season - Tacoma Defiance
- SD Loyal Plays to 2-2 Tie at Phoenix Rising FC - San Diego Loyal
- Las Vegas Lights FC Earns First Win with 2-0 Decision - 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.
