Rowdies Bounce Back to Beat Tulsa 5-0
May 18, 2024 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - The Tampa Bay Rowdies bounced back from consecutive league losses with an outstanding 5-0 victory over FC Tulsa at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night. Forward Manuel Arteaga and defender Forrest Lasso both recorded braces in the win, Tampa Bay's fourth victory of the season.
"I was really pleased with the performance," said Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson. "It was actually similar to last week, where we created loads of chances. The only difference tonight is we took our chances. We probably would have scored more goals. I was really pleased with the performance in front of a great crowd tonight."
Arteaga opened the scoring just 12 minutes into the match. Beating a Tulsa defender to the ball in the middle of the field, Rowdies midfielder Charlie Dennis poked it toward the left wing for teammate Blake Bodily, who chipped a lofting cross over the defense that found Arteaga on the back post. With not much of an angle, Arteaga managed to pop a header over the keeper that snuck under the crossbar.
Dennis, making his first league start of the season, played an integral part in Tampa Bay's second goal as well. Receiving a pass from captain Aaron Guillen in the 22nd minute, Dennis took one touch before launching a cross from the left flank that dropped right onto the head of Cal Jennings, who redirected it into the back of the net.
"Trying to create an angle from the shoulder of the defender so Aaron could play the ball up the line and give me more time to take a touch," said Dennis. "Then I got my head up and then from there I put in a good ball, because I know Calis is going to finish the ball. It was nice to get an assist."
Jennings offered the set up on the Rowdies third tally of the night. Jennings met a corner kick whipped in by Lewis Hilton at the near post, guiding it across goal with a header. The attempt was sailing wide right of the frame until Lasso flew in to head it across the line.
As the halftime whistle neared, the visitors gave the Rowdies a chance for a fourth goal from the penalty spot. Tulsa's Edwin Laszo clattered into Jennings in the box, drawing a whistle. Arteaga stepped up and converted with a confident blast past keeper Joey Roggeveen's outstretched arms.
The last time the Rowdies recorded four goals in the first half of a match was May 13 of last year, when they knocked off Detroit City FC 5-1.
"We came back with a chip on our shoulders and we definitely showed why we can be a top team and really push on up the table now, that's what it's about," said Dennis. "Like We need to keep putting points on the board, so tonight was a step in the right direction."
Lasso added his second goal for good measure in the 71st minute. Another excellent corner kick delivery from Hilton found the head of Lasso, who sent it straight into the top right corner from the middle of the box.
"Forrest has been great," said Neilson. "We did quite a bit of work during the week on set pieces. [Assistant Coach] Nicky Law does work on the attacking side of things and [Assistant Coach] Stuart Dobson does the work on the defensive side. Both of them worked quite extensively this week on it. I thought we defended really well on corner kicks and free kicks. We knew Tulsa are a real threat on those. Attacking wise, it's important that we don't solely rely on Manu [Manuel Arteaga] and Cal [Jennings]. We have to get goals from elsewhere."
Next up, the Rowdies are back at Al Lang Stadium on Wednesday night to face MLS' FC Dallas in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans can purchase tickets.
"Coming in on Monday it's going to be all about FC Dallas," said Rowdies keeper Jordan Farr. "...We're going to treat this like a playoff game because it is. Win or go home. This team is very much capable of performing against the top class MLS organizations and teams. We're going to ride the momentum but we're going to treat it like a brand-new game."
Scoring Summary
TBR - Arteaga (Bodily), 12'
TBR - Jennings (Dennis), 22'
TBR - Lasso (Jennings), 42'
TBR - Arteaga (Penalty), 45+1'
TBR - Lasso (Hilton), 71'
Caution Summary
TUL - Laszo, Yellow Card, 45+1'
TUL - Diallo, Yellow Card, 60'
TBR - Worth, Yellow Card, 84'
TUL - Dalou, Yellow Card, 90+1'
Lineups
Rowdies: Farr, Doherty, Lasso, Guillen, Niyongabire, Dennis, Hilton, Crisostomo, Bodily, Jennings, Arteaga
Rowdies Bench: Breno, Dezart, Kleemann, Munjoma, Skubis, Worth, Moon, Rivera, Ortiz
Tulsa: Rogeveen, St, Clair, Seagrist, Tetteh, Bourgeois, Portillo, Diallo, Laszo, Goodrum, Ferri, Stojanovic
Tulsa Bench: Creek, Damm, Sanchez, Souahy, Dalou, Ponce, Yosef
UP NEXT:
TAMPA BAY ROWDIES vs FC DALLAS
Al Lang Stadium | St. Petersburg, FL
May 22, 2024 | Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16
7:30 p.m. ET | USSOCCER.COM
POSTGAME QUOTESHEET
HEAD COACH ROBBIE NEILSON
On bouncing back from a tough defeat last week with a dominant win tonight...
"I was really pleased with the performance. It was actually similar to last week, where we created loads of chances. The only difference tonight is we took our chances. We probably would have scored more goals. I was really pleased with the performance in front of a great crowd tonight. I think they came away entertained, which is the most important thing."
On the importance to securing a shutout versus Tulsa...
"I think it was really important. We spoke about it at halftime. We were in a good position, but we've been in good positions before and then let goals in. I think as a group we have a responsibility to keep clean sheets. That's not just down to the goalkeeper and the back line. There's a midfield and attackers as well who have a responsibility to assist in that. Really pleased to get the goals, but also really pleased to get the clean sheet."
On the most aspect of tonight's performance for the team to take away from tonight...
"For me, the most important thing is that the players enjoy it. If the players enjoy working hard, scoring goals, creating opportunities, they'll play well and the fans will enjoy it. I enjoyed the performance last week. I know we got beat one-nil but it we created chances. As we do that, we'll win more games then we lose."
On Charlie Dennis' performance in his first league start of the year...
"I'm really pleased for Charlie [Dennis] personally because he's been out for a while. I'm also pleased for the team because he brings a different dimension. He can play in that number ten position. He's also got a great physicality to deal with the game. It was a great delivery with a left foot. We've been building him up. Recently, we've just been building him up. It's been ten minutes, 20 minutes, thirty minutes, now he gets 60 minutes and a start under his belt. That's him getting closer to full fitness."
On the Forrest Lasso's two goals off set pieces and the importance of finding goals outside of Cal Jennings and Manuel Arteaga...
"Forrest [Lasso] has been great. We did quite a bit of work during the week on set pieces. [Assistant Coach] Nicky Law does work on the attacking side of things and [Assistant Coach] Stuart Dobson does the work on the defensive side. Both of them worked quite extensively this week on it. I thought we defended really well on corner kicks and free kicks. We knew they are a real threat on those. Attacking wise, it's important that we don't solely rely on Manu [Manuel Arteaga] and Cal [Jennings]. We have to get goals form elsewhere."
On the value of positive momentum from tonight heading into Wednesday's Open Cup match versus FC Dallas...
"It's really important. It's a massive opportunity for us. There's no denying [FC] Dallas are a really good team in MLS. They've got some real top players. But we believe as a team that if we work the way we worked tonight and create the chances, it'll give a good chance of going through to the next round."
MIDFIELDER CHARLIE DENNIS
On his first start of the season...
"Honestly, it feels great to be out there. All the effort we put away from the field, that's 90 percent of it. The last 10 percent is being out there in front of the fans and putting on a good performance."
On his assist to Cal Jennings...
"Trying to create an angle from the shoulder of the defender so Aaron [Guillen] could play the ball up the line and give me more time to take a touch and then got my head up and then from there I put in a good ball, because I know Cal [Jennings] is going to finish the ball. It was nice to get an assist."
On the positive performance after a tough loss last weekend...
"It's a results business and at the end of the day we have to get three points. We couldn't do that last week but we came back with a chip on our shoulders and we definitely showed why we can be a top team and really push on up the table now, that's what it's about. Like last year, we went on a run. We need to keep putting points on the board, so tonight was a step in the right direction.
On what worked tonight for the team against FC Tulsa...
"Laying the ground work with hard work. There were a few bits at the start where we couldn't quite get near them on the press but then we figured that out. One we put the press, then the plan really comes from there.
On the importance of the momentum heading into an Open Cup match on Wednesday...
"It's great. Every time we come out to at Al Lang, we need to get three points and that will really give us the confidence going into midweek. We fully believe we can win the game on Wednesday and that's the attitude we're going with."
GOALKEEPER JORDAN FARR
On the importance of getting the win after two league losses...
"That's not us, two league losses is not our standard. It's not anything we're happy about, so training has been really direct, really good and competitive and everything you want out of the boys. Responding to two tough, poor results. Obviously with the Open Cup win in between them, it feels not like two losses in a row but that's what makes these types of games harder. We defended so well from front to back, the boys did so well in front of me."
On the importance of the clean sheet and how the group accomplished it...
"Yeah, a big emphasis on it. A lot of times when you're winning four-zero, three-zero, whatever it was going into half, five-zero at one point with 12 minutes to go, a lot of the times you can get lackadaisical potentially, but the emphasis has really been on getting clean sheets because we know we're going to score goals. For the boys in front to do the work offensively and defensively, that's what it really takes. Forrest [Lasso], Jordan [Dougherty] and Aaron [Guillen] had phenomenal games. Eddie [Munjoma[ coming on, Nick Moon coming in for Wazi [Pacifique Niyongabire], and Blake [Bodily]. For me, Blake is such an important piece of our team. Blake Bodily is up and down, he does all the work offensively, he gets around people, and then he goes and makes goal line clearances like he did today. We attribute the shutout to moments like that."
On how crucial the momentum is going into the Open Cup match on Wednesday...
"It's right back to work, come Monday. Gaffer's [Head Coach Robbie Nielson] gave us the day off [Sunday] to rest, because we know we have a big week. So coming in on Monday it's going to be all about FC Dallas. I know they're playing right now, down one-zero against Houston [Dynamo] and we're going to treat this like a playoff game because it is. Win or go home. This team is very much capable of performing against the top class MLS organizations and team. We're going to ride the momentum but we're going to treat it like a brand-new game."
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