CARY, N.C. (March 18, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies made a flashy start to the 2018 USL season with a 3-1 road win over North Carolina FC on Saturday afternoon, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a handy three points.
After a somewhat shaky start in the opening minutes, Leo Fernandes opened the scoring against the run of play midway through the first half. North Carolina equalized in the 38th minute, but the Rowdies regained the lead only three minutes later and never relinquished control of the match again.
Here are three things from Saturday’s season-opening win.
1. A good result
There’s no better place to start than the obvious: Scoring three goals and opening the season with a road win is a very good result for the Rowdies. Tampa Bay now brings a little momentum home for Monday’s season kickoff party and then Saturday night’s home opener against the Bethlehem Steel.
Road games have been a struggle for the Rowdies for the last several seasons, so it’s nice to see Tampa Bay play confidently and get a result away from home on the first day of the season. The Rowdies won only three times in 16 matches away from Al Lang Stadium in 2017.
Apart from some early wobbles and sloppy passing, the Rowdies clearly established themselves as the better team, taking a lead in the 23rd minute. Even after conceding a goal in the 38th minute, the Rowdies bounced back positively, immediately putting the pressure back on North Carolina FC.
Tampa Bay benefitted from a controversial decision in the 41st minute when David Najem was fouled near the edge of the 18-yard box by NCFC captain Austin da Luz and referee Guido Gonzales Jr. pointed to the penalty spot. Georgi Hristov converted the penalty kick to put the Rowdies back in front and Tampa Bay cruised to the finish.
North Carolina created a few chances for itself, but the Rowdies were unlucky not to score a few more goals. Hristov missed a great scoring chance in the 54th minute after a blistering Rowdies attack.
Late in the match, Jochen Graf could’ve scored a goal off the bench in his Rowdies debut to put the match away, but the Rowdies wouldn’t have to regret those missed chances.
Jack Blake put the game away in the 90th minute with a strike from outside the box for the perfect ending to his own Rowdies debut, sealing all three points and a positive start for the Rowdies.
2. Cody’s second debut
After a tight competition in the preseason, Cody Mizell earned an opening day start in net for the Rowdies and made the most of his chance, tallying seven saves for the Rowdies.
It was Mizell’s second debut for the Rowdies, having joined the Rowdies this winter after three seasons away. He played for the Rowdies in 2014, but made only four appearances for Tampa Bay in his first stint with the club. One of those matches was a 2-0 loss to North Carolina FC (then known as the Carolina RailHawks) at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, the site of Saturday’s victory.
Mizell’s return to WakeMed Soccer Park (and the Rowdies) was much more successful.
Mizell’s seven saves were the second most by any goalkeeper in the USL through Saturday night and included a couple of show-stoppers to deny the home team a few great scoring opportunities.
3. A few more debuts, too
Saturday’s starting lineup featured three new players acquired this offseason with David Najem and Jack Blake making their full Rowdies debuts, plus Cody Mizell making his second Rowdies debut. Lance Rozeboom and Jochen Graf entered the match off the bench in their official Rowdies debuts. Max Lachowecki, Ivan Magalhães and Junior Flemmings were all dressed on the bench for their first match with the Rowdies, but did not appear as a substitute.
Blake and Mizell will draw the headlines, but Najem’s debut was also a positive one. Najem, playing at right back, won more than half of his duels, posted two clearances and also had an interception and a tackle. It was Najem’s dangerous run into the box that drew the Rowdies’ penalty kick.
