The Basics
Orlando City B vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Thursday, July 13, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Orlando City Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Follow us for live updates on Twitter @RowdiesGameday
How to Watch
The match will be streamed live on the USL’s YouTube page here. You can follow live stats and watch the game in the USL Match Center here.
Watch Party
Head to Five Bucks Drinkery on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg to watch with other Rowdies fans and enjoy drink specials during the match.
Records
Orlando City B: 5-6-6 (W-T-L), 21 points, 9th place
Tampa Bay: 7-6-5 (W-T-L), 27 points, 4th place
Rowdies Notes
The Tampa Bay Rowdies sit in fourth place in the USL’s Eastern Conference and are coming off a 2-0 win at home over FC Cincinnati on Thursday, July 6. at win snapped a seven-game winless skid that saw Tampa Bay fall from second place in the East on June 17 to fourth place by the time last week kicked off.
Forward Alex Morrell played a starring role in Tampa Bay’s win over FC Cincinnati, helping to create both goals with his speed and dribbling ability. He assisted Martin Paterson for the Rowdies’ first goal. Tampa Bay’s second goal was scored by Joe Cole, who put in a rebound from a saved Morrell shot. Morrell was named to the USL Team of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.
The 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati was Tampa Bay’s seventh clean in USL play, but first in nearly two months since a 2-0 win over Louisville City FC on May 13. The Rowdies started the year with six clean sheets from their first nine matches before conceding at least once in eight consecutive USL matches prior to last week.
Tampa Bay will be without center back Damion Lowe, who is on international duty with Jamaica at the Gold Cup. Lowe started and played all 90 minutes of Jamaica’s opening win over Curacao on Sunday night.
Defender Luke Boden, a former Orlando City player, is eligible to return tonight after serving a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation last week.
Scouting Orlando City B
Orlando City B sits just outside the current playoff field with 21 points, six fewer than the Rowdies. Heading into this match, Orlando has won once in six matches, including drawing both of its last two matches.
Pierre Da Silva, Orlando’s City B’s key playmaker will this match due to a three-game suspension for violent conduct. Da Silva leads Orlando with six assists, just one short of the league leaders.
Orlando City B hasn’t found its go-to goalscorer yet, with Richie Laryea, Hadji Barry and Albert Dikwa all tied for the team lead with three goals.
Goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. has been one of the USL’s better goalkeepers this season, with five clean sheets and 50 saves, good for third-best in the league.
