Rowdies Face First Road Test at New York Red Bulls II
June 2, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
Gameday Info
Tampa Bay Rowdies at New York Red Bulls II
Wednesday, June 2, 7 p.m. ET
MSU Soccer Park, Montclair, New Jersey
Watch: The match can be viewed on ESPN+ here.
Follow Along: Live updates for the match will be posted on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday. Score Updates will also be posted on the Rowdies' Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Rowdies Notes
After a perfect 4-0 start to the season and a week off from competitive play, the Tampa Bay Rowdies return to the field this week for their first road swing of the year and are aiming to turn their positive start to the 2021 season into an historic one. A win on Wednesday at New York Red Bulls II would mark the first time the club has ever won five straight matches in the modern era.
"To become a great team there's certain things that you have to do," said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. "I think we've gradually done that with certain records, unbeaten stretches, starts to the season, different little things. That would be a great one for the players to have, most consecutive wins. It wont be something we'll bring up and talk about, but it'd just be a great thing when you look back at history and see records are held by certain teams."
The Rowdies played New York just once in 2020 due to the shortened season. They traveled to face Red Bulls II for last year's season opener, coming away with their first win on the road against a New York team in the modern era. Midfielder Leo Fernandes tallied the winner in the 1-0 result that day and the next week the season was suspended due to the pandemic.
Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins has kept the same lineup the last three weeks straight, though that seems unlikely as they Rowdies will play two matches in short succession. Following Wednesday's tilt, the Rowdies will travel to face the Charlotte Independence. The busy week and a few injuries on the roster means Collins is likely to test out his depth more than he has had to in these first few weeks.
"I think you're going to be tested but I also think it's a great opportunity for players in the squad to get the chance and there's some that are really deserving of a chance," he said. "It's been difficult because the team's been doing so well. It's not anything negative against them, it's just the guys that have had the jersey have done enough to keep it. I'm really looking forward to giving some of these guys the opportunity and we know through a 32-game season we'll need these guy to impact games and contribute and I'm sure they will."
Injury Report
OUT: Luiz Fernando, Juan Tejada, Lucky Mkosana, Steevan Dos Santos
QUESTIONABLE: Laurence Wyke
Opposition Notes
New York is coming off a tough 3-0 loss at the hands of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and enters Wednesday's clash with just one win through its first six matches. The club's only points so far have been earned off the Atlantic Division's last-place Charleston Battery and seventh-place Loudoun United FC.
Mandela Egbo currently leads Red Bulls II with two goals so far in his second season with the club. Last year's leading scorer Omar Sowe has also returned and has one tally through his first five appearances. New York has also retained Jake LaCava, who led the club with five assists in 2020.
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