The Tampa Bay Rowdies extended their lead over Orange County SC in the race for the USL Championship Players’ Shield race with a 3-0 victory on the Western Conference leader’s home turf on Saturday.
“It’s great to play against other top teams and test ourselves,” said Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato. “Obviously when you come out on top on nights like tonight it makes you feel pretty good.”
With the shutout victory, the Rowdies snapped Orange County’s nine-match unbeaten streak in league play and became the first team to surpass 40 points in standings this year. With 41 points earned through 19 matches, the Rowdies lead Orange County for the Players’ Shield by seven points and hold an eight-point advantage over the Charleston Battery in the Eastern Conference standings.
“Great resilience shown by all the guys tonight,” said Casciato. “Not just from the guys that started the game, but also the guys that came off the bench. We got a real impact from everyone. I’m just really proud of the guys for coming here and not just getting a win but giving an absolutely dominant performance as well.”
Rowdies Forward MD Myers continued his scoring streak with his fourth goal in three matches to put his side ahead in the 23rd minute on Saturday night. Midfielder Lewis Hilton – making his 173rd club appearance to match Georgi Hristove for the 2nd most appearances in the club’s modern era – was fouled in the box by the host’s goalkeeper Alex Rando to draw the referee’s whistle. Myers then stepped up to the penalty spot and hit his attempt with confidence above a diving Rando and into the back of the net.
Myers offered the assist on Tampa Bay’s second goal of the evening in the 58th minute. After nullifying an Orange County corner kick, the Rowdies quickly moved the ball up the field and into the attacking third. An initial shot from Rowdies Midfielder Louis Perez in the box was blocked, but Myers scooped up the rebound and swiftly passed it on to teammate Marco Micaletto to smash across the line.
Like Myers, Micaletto has also tallied goals in Tampa Bay’s last three matches. The assist was Myers’ fourth of the season. He leads the Rowdies with nine goals on the season and 12 goals in all competitions.
“I thought our patience in terms of how we pressed (Orange County) and how we denied them from playing centrally was really impressive,” said Casciato. “The amount of chances we created and how clinical we were was excellent.”
Attackers Evan Conway and Karsen Henderlong combined after entering off the bench to increase Tampa Bay’s lead as the match neared the 90th minute. Conway fed Henderlong for a run into the box with a pass over Orange County’s defensive line. Rando came off his line to thwart Henderlong, but Henderlong dribbled past him and kept possession in the face of pressure from a defender to bury the ball into the empty net. The tally marked Henderlong’s first USL Championship goal. The Indiana native bagged three goals for the Rowdies in the Group Stage of the Prinx Tires USL Cup.
“Karsen is going to be a great player at this level,” said Casciato. “He’s been getting better and better. His hold up play is getting better and better. He deserves a goal for the amount of work he’s been putting in for the team and how he’s been training. Evan is a proven attacking weapon in this league. We know what he can bring and I think he’s only just getting started with us.”
The Rowdies held Orange County at bay throughout the night, preventing the Western Conference frontrunners from registering a single shot on target to earn their first clean sheet in league play since June 20. Saturday’s effort was Tampa Bay’s league-leading ninth shutout of the regular season.
“I thought from front to back we were excellent,” said Casciato. “The players were great at recognizing when to press them, not being impatient. The way we defended our box and defended a very good player in Ousamane Sylla I thought was outstanding. I’m really proud of the guys for the way they’ve applied themselves.”
Next up, the Rowdies return home to host Louisville City FC in the Quarterfinals of the Prinx Tires USL Cup at Al Lang Stadium on Wednesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary
TBR – Myers (Penalty), 23’
TBR – Micaletto (Myers), 58’
TBR – Henderlong (Conway), 89’
Caution Summary
TBR – Hilton (Yellow Card), 16’
OC – Dogham (Yellow Card), 37′
TBR – Wyke (Yellow Card), 53’
OC – Zubak (Yellow Card), 83’
OC – Solis (Yellow Card), 90+4’
Stats Summary: TBR / OC
Shots: 11 / 5
Shots on Goal: 5 / 0
Saves: 0 / 4
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls Conceded: 8 / 13
Offside: 2 / 4
Possession: 65.4 / 34.6
Lineups
TBR: Waite, Acoff (Antley, 70’), Schneider, Dossantos, Ostrem, Cruz, Hilton (Wyke, 46’), Micaletto, (Conway, 70’) Perez (Dolabella, 61’), Cicerone (Henderlong, 85’), Myers
TBR Bench: Pack, Antley, Nigro, Wyke, Dolabella, Conway, Henderlong
OC: Rando, Benalcazar, Brewitt, Tubbs, Doghman (Palomino, 71’), Hegardt (Cambridge, 71’), Sylla (Castro, 89’), Kelly, Solis, Marinch (Zubak, 61’), Bazini
OC Bench: Gentile, Kadono, O’Brien, Ciotta, Espy, Cambridge, Palomino, Zubak, Castro
