USL United Soccer League Championship

Tampa Bay Rowdies, Phoenix Rising FC Square off Tonight on ESPN2

May 15, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One of the most highly-anticipated regular season contests in the USL Championship's history kicks off on ESPN2 tonight as the defending Eastern Conference Title holder Tampa Bay Rowdies host the defending Western Conference Title holder Phoenix Rising FC.

USL on ESPN broadcast team Mike Watts and Devon Kerr will bring fans across the United States and overseas through the USL's recently-announced international broadcast agreements all the action live from Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

All available tickets for the game - which will be played with social distancing protocols in place - were purchased by early Friday morning, with the passionate support for the Rowdies aiming to push the hosts to victory against a dangerous Rising FC lineup. Both clubs have begun the new season 2-0-0, with the Rowdies outscoring their opponents 6-0 and Rising FC 7-1 respectively.

With a collection of Championship award-winners and senior internationals set to be on display, here are the players to watch as the sides clash tonight.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies' Forrest Lasso and Phoenix Rising FC's Solomon Asante will be key figures as their sides meet on ESPN2 on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET.

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES

Forrest Lasso, Defender - The only two-time Championship Defender of the Year in league history, Forrest Lasso has been named to four consecutive Championship All-League First Teams in the past four seasons. The 6-foot-5 center back has helped the Rowdies record a Championship-best nine shutouts in 18 games since his arrival at the start of the 2020 regular season, with his defensive cohorts Aaron Guillen and Jordan Scarlett - himself a 2020 All-League selection - holding opponents to only 43 shots on target, an average of 2.39 per game.

Sebastian Guenzatti, Forward - The Rowdies captain, and one of the club's longest-tenured players since joining the team in 2017, Sebastian Guenzatti has become one of the top strikers in the Championship over the past two-plus seasons. The Uruguayan-American is tied for the most goals in the league across the regular season and playoffs since the start of the 2019 regular season with 32 tallies, and his three goals already this campaign have paced the Rowdies' attack and put him into early contention for the Championship's Golden Boot.

PHOENIX RISING FC

Solomon Asante, Forward - It's almost inarguable that no single player has made the impact Ghanaian forward and playmaker Solomon Asante has made for a team since he joined Rising FC at the start of the 2018 season. Last season crowned the USL Championship's Most Valuable Player for a second consecutive year, Asante has racked up 43 goals and 34 assists - the most in the league in both categories - in 80 appearances. At 5-foot-2, Asante has shown great things can come in small packages throughout his tenure in Phoenix's colors.

Aodhan Quinn, Midfielder - One of the major free agent signings in the Championship this past offseason, Aodhan Quinn added to the embarrassment of riches in Phoenix's squad with his arrival from Orange County SC. A 2019 finalist for the Championship's MVP award claimed by Asante, Quinn has built a reputation as one of the best playmaking midfielders in the league's history. Over the past four seasons, the San Diego, California native has recorded 26 goals, 23 assists and 187 key passes, and has quickly formed a solid chemistry with his new teammates in the desert.

BY THE NUMBERS

Team Wins Losses Draws Goals For Goals Conceded xG For xG Against

Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 0 0 6 0 3.96 1.09

Phoenix Rising FC 2 0 0 7 1 3.86 1.16

Note: Expected Goals Data via American Soccer Analysis

UNFINISHED BUSINESS WEEKEND

Saturday night's clash between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC kicks off the USL's Unfinished Business weekend, which concludes on Sunday afternoon with the first USL League One game to air on national television as defending League One Title holder Greenville Triumph SC hosts Union Omaha at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Both Greenville and Omaha are 3-0-0 to start their new seasons after finishing 1-2 in the standings a season ago to each stake early claims to being the class of the league this season.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 15, 2021


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