ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 23, 2016) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies switched off a minute before halftime and a minute after the break and paid dearly for it, suffering their first loss of the 2016 North American Soccer League season 3-1 at the hands of the visiting Carolina RailHawks.
The Rowdies controlled much of the first half before falling behind suddenly in the 45th minute after a goal by Alex Perez. The second half started how the first ended, with James Marcelin doubling Carolina’s lead less than a minute into the second half. Rowdies captain Tamika Mkandawire started a rally with a brilliant goal in the 65th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1 and it felt like Tampa Bay would fight back for at least a point before Tiyi Shipalane drew a penalty for the RailHawks less than five minutes from time. Brian Shriver converted the penalty to seal Carolina’s victory.
The result sees the Rowdies hold on five points through four matches heading into next week’s rivalry clash against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, while Carolina extended its perfect start to the season with its fourth win in four games at the top of the league.
“I’m very disappointed with the goals we conceded,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “Starting with the first one, we didn’t apply enough pressure further up the field, which I asked for. They cut through us and we weren’t marking tight enough in the area. There could have been two or three of them to tap it in.”
Perez’s goal was a simple one. A cross played from the left side made its way across the face of goal for Perez to tap in at the back post with space around him. Just seconds before halftime, the goal came at a difficult time for the Rowdies.
Marcelin’s goal just after the break came in similar fashion, with RailHawks captain Nazmi Albadawi serving in a cross from the right for Marcelin to finish off.
Down 2-0 and forced to chase the match, the Rowdies showed fighting spirit capped by Mkandawire’s goal. Michael Nanchoff took a free kick from the left channel, which met Neill Collins’ head near the top of the box. Collins’ header back across the face of goal was spectacularly volleyed in first time by Mkandawire to halve Tampa Bay’s deficit.
The match could have turned in the 73rd minute when Rowdies forward Tommy Heinemann raced in on goal, but was contacted and knocked off balance by Marcelin in the 18-yard box. Heinemann stumbled on his feet long enough to shoot, but his effort was saved by Carolina goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald.
“I thought maybe Tommy was a little bit too honest because there was definite contact and he could have gone down,” Campbell said. “I don’t tell my players (to go down.) There was contact in the area and Tommy could have gone down if he chose, but he chose to try and fight the guy off. Obviously, when he did that, he lost a yard of space that he had.”
Still down 2-1, the Rowdies continued to chase until Shriver put the match away with his late penalty for Carolina.
“It’s never good to lose,” Mkandawire said. “I thought we let ourselves down. We’ve got to be better in both boxes and make the most of our opportunities in front of goal. Both goals they had tonight, we gave them. We’ve got to clean it up and tighten up. For me, I think the penalty was very, very harsh. We controlled the play and we’re disappointed not to make more of the opportunities we created.”
Up next, the Rowdies head to Fort Lauderdale to take on the Strikers next weekend in their second match of the 2016 Coastal Cup. Fort Lauderdale drew 1-1 at home against Jacksonville Armada FC on Saturday night. The Rowdies’ next home match in May 14 against Rayo OKC.
Scoring Summary
Carolina – Alex Perez (assisted by Paul Black) – 45th minute
Carolina – James Marcelin (assited by Nazmi Albadawi) – 46th minute
Tampa Bay – Tamika Mkandawire (assisted by Neill Collins) – 65th minute
Carolina – Brian Shriver (Penalty) – 86th minute
Caution Summary
Carolina – Drew Beckie – 49th minute
Carolina – Alex Perez – 58th minute
Tampa Bay – Juan Guerra – 71st minute
Lineups
Tampa Bay XI (4-2-3-1): GK Matt Pickens; D Darnell King, Tamika Mkandawire (c), Neill Collins, Ben Sweat; M Juan Guerra, Michael Nanchoff; M Eric Avila, Georgi Hristov (Danny Mwanga 64′), Kalif Alhassan (Walter Ramirez 76′); F Tommy Heinemann
Carolina XI (4-2-3-1): GK Akira Fitzgerald; D Drew Beckie (Kareem Moses 52′), Connor Tobin, James Marcelin, Paul Black (Simon Mensing 75′); M Alex Perez, Matt Watson; M Tiyi Shipalane, Nazmi Albadawi (c), Austin da Luz; F Brian Shriver (Nicholas Taitague 89′)
