The Tampa Bay Rowdies picked up a hard-fought point in Saturday’s USL Championship road contest versus Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Tampa Bay prevented the defending league champions from registering a shot on goal in the stalemate, securing their league-leading 11th shutout of the season.
“We knew (Pittsburgh) were dangerous on the counterattack, and they really didn’t get any chances that way,” said Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato. “…I’m proud of the guys for the way they applied themselves defensively. I thought everyone put in a great shift. With just a little bit more composure and a little bit more calmness in the final third, I think we take all three points tonight.”
The host aimed for goal a few minutes into the match when midfielder Eliot Goldthorp lined up a shot from the top of the box, but Rowdies Defender Laurence Wyke managed to snuff it out with a headed clearance before the ball made its way to goal.
Rowdies Captain Nate Dossantos looked to put his side up just a few minutes later at the opposite end of the field. Midfielder Marco Micaletto set him up for the chance with a free kick from the left flank that dipped down in the box for Dossantos, who got his head on the service but saw his attempt scooped up by goalkeeper Nico Campuzano.
The Rowdies maintained a sizable advantage in possession throughout the match, finishing with a 59.5 to 40.5 percent edge at the final whistle. However, the Green and Gold could not use the advantage to probe Pittsburgh’s goal with strike on goal.
In the 84th minute, Forward Russell Cicerone ripped a left-footed rocket from just inside the box that rose just a bit over the crossbar. The Rowdies had the last charge forward of the match when defender Dion Acoff drove in a cross from the right edge for teammate Charlie Ostrem in the dying moments of added time. Ostrem had space in the box but could not wrangle his attempt on frame.
“I thought the lads did everything we asked them to do. We were just missing a little bit of composure in the final third at times, and we didn’t quite do enough to trouble their keeper to take all three points. But I thought we came here to a difficult place to come and really controlled the game against a really good team that’s well coached.”
With the draw, the Rowdies now have 45 points as the frontrunners in the Eastern Conference standings and in the hunt for the USL Championship Players’ Shield. Eight matches remain for the Rowdies to hold off the rest of the field to claim their second Players’ Shield in club history and earn home field advantage in the playoffs.
After two weeks on the road, the Rowdies return home to host USL Championship newcomers Brooklyn FC at Al Lang Stadium next Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
“We can’t wait to get back to Al Lang next week. We’ve got the best fans in the league, so we want to get back there and put on a show for them next Saturday against Brooklyn.”
Caution Summary
TBR – Schneider (Yellow Card), 27’
PIT – Amann (Yellow Card), 63’
PIT – Goldthorp (Yellow Card), 73’
PIT – Ahl (Yellow Card), 75’
Stats Summary: TBR / PIT
Shots: 13 / 9
Shots on Goal: 2 / 0
Saves: 0 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls Conceded: 15 / 16
Offside: 0 / 0
Possession: 59.5 / 40.5
Lineups
TBR: Waite, Acoff, Wyke, Bartlow, Dossantos, Ostrem, Micaletto (Dolabella, 57’), Schneider, Cicerone, Henderlong (Perez, 69’), Myers (Conway, 69’)
TBR Bench: Pack, Antley, Nigro, Dolabella, Hilton, Perez, Conway
PIT: Campuzano, Griffin, Souza, Mikey, Ydrach, Goldthorp (Goldthorp, 75’), Mertz, Walti, Ahl, Amann, Bassett (Tsukanome, 67’)
PIT Bench: Sheridan, Vacter, Barnes, Osumanu, Etou, Garcia, Tsukanome
