The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. FC Cincinnati
Saturday, August 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
Tickets
Tickets for Saturday’s match are available by calling (727) 222-2000 or clicking here. Gates open at 6 p.m.
How to Watch
In addition to thisTV Tampa Bay, the match will be broadcast online on ESPN+ (subscription required), the official streaming partner of the USL, here. International viewers in regions where ESPN+ is not offered can watch the match here. Fans in the Tampa Bay area can also listen to the game live on WHNZ 1250 AM.
Parking
There are several options for parking at Al Lang Stadium and around downtown. Parking in Lot A, right in front of the stadium, is for PASS HOLDERS ONLY and opens at 4 p.m. For more parking options, click here.
Records
Tampa Bay: 7-10-7 (W-L-T); 5-3-5 at home; 12th place
FC Cincinnati: 16-3-6 (W-L-T); 7-1-3 on road; 1st place
Rowdies Notes
The Rowdies return to St. Petersburg after a 1-1 draw on the road against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Wednesday night. The Rowdies conceded with the final kick of the first half, but fought back to tie the match via Junior Flemmings’ fifth goal of the season in the 72nd minute.
Flemmings’ goal snapped a lengthy scoring drought for the Rowdies. Since Stefano Bonomo’s ninth minute goal against the New York Red Bulls II on July 28, the Rowdies played 422 minutes without a goal.
Tampa Bay had only 25.7 percent of possession Wednesday night and connected only 216 passes (both season lows), but managed to find a way to avoid defeat.
Tampa Bay forward Stefano Bonomo exited Wednesday’s match in the 24th minute with an apparent left ankle injury. His status for Saturday night is unknown.
Rowdies goalkeeper Daniel Vega made his Tampa Bay debut in the match, posting three saves. He signed with the Rowdies August 16 and became the eighth player to make his club debut since June 27, a period of less than two months.
It’s been a summer of upheaval for the Rowdies, who have undergone a significant midseason roster rebuild since Neill Collins was appointed head coach May 18. Of the 27 players on the current roster, nine were signed after the season began. That group includes Leon Taylor (signed April 5), Dominic Oduro and Afrim Taku (both signed June 20), Kwadwo Poku (June 26), Stefano Bonomo (July 3), Kyle Porter (July 13), Pape Diakite (July 20), Tarek Morad (August 8) and Daniel Vega (August 16).
Center back Tamika Mkandawire could become the sixth player in the Rowdies Modern Era to reach 100 appearances in green and gold if he plays Saturday night. He made his 99th appearance on August 3 in Ottawa, but hasn’t played in any of the Rowdies’ three matches since. Mkandawire has started eleven matches this year. He made his first appearance July 12, 2014 against the Atlanta Silverbacks. When he reaches 100 appearances, he will join Georgi Hristov, Keith Savage, Takuya Yamada, Matt Pickens and Frankie Sanfilippo as the only Rowdies to reach 100 in the Modern Era.
Injury Report: OUT: D David Najem (torn ACL, April 14)
D Kyle Curinga (sprained ankle, May 12)
M Lance Rozeboom (right knee sprain, June 2)
QUESTIONABLE: F Stefano Bonomo (left ankle, August 22)
