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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (September 15, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies survived a nervous finish Saturday night to pick up a 1-0 win over Atlanta United 2 at Al Lang Stadium after Sebastian Guenzatti’s first-half strike.

Guenzatti took a feed from Kwadwo Poku in the 30th minute and put a clinical finish past Atlanta goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt for what stood as the game-winner. It was Guenzatti’s fourth goal of September.

“It was a very good team performance,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “I thought some of our play was excellent. Seba’s goal was something he’s done in training. It was a great finish. We’ve made improvements.”

Tampa Bay started the match on the front foot and dominated the proceedings for the first 15 minutes or so before Atlanta started to find its footing and raise its level.

After enduring 10 minutes of pressure, Tampa Bay got back into gear setting up Guenzatti for a tap-in from six yards out only to see the Uruguayan poke his first-touch over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Guenzatti more than made up for that miss, spinning and firing a low shot from 16 yards out that snuck just inside the far post to put the Rowdies up 1-0.

“(Poku) played me into the box and my first touch was good enough to leave me with a wide open shot for the far post. It was a really good win for us. We really needed it to move forward and hopefully we’ll keep it up until the end of the season.”

Tampa Bay controlled the remainder of the first half and the opening of the second half but couldn’t quite connect for an insurance goal. The Rowdies mustered 14 shots (four on target) and racked up nine corner kicks.

Atlanta came back to life as the match progressed past the hour mark with the Rowdies absorbing pressure and trying to spring a counter attack. Tampa Bay pressed higher and higher as the second half progressed, trying to create turnovers.

While the visitors only mustered one shot on target all night, forcing Tampa Bay goalkeeper Daniel Vega to make a simple save in the 73rd minute, it was a nervous final 20 minutes for the Rowdies.

Tampa Bay must move on quickly to prepare for a match against Nashville SC on Tuesday night in Tennessee before returning home to host the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, September 22. For tickets, call (727) 222-2000 or click here.

Scoring Summary
Rowdies: Sebastian Guenzatti – 30th minute (Assisted by Kwadwo Poku)

Caution Summary
Atlanta: Laurent Kiessiedou – 44th minute
Rowdies: Dominic Oduro – 44th minute
Atlanta : Andrew Kendall-Moulin – 51st minute
Atlanta: Oliver Shannon – 79th minute
Rowdies: Joe Cole – 87th minute

Starting Lineups
Rowdies XI (3-5-2): GK Daniel Vega; D Hunter Gorskie, Papé Diakité, Tarek Morad; M Afrim Taku, Kwadwo Poku (Joe Cole 75′), Dom Oduro, Martin Vingaard (Lance Rozeboom 86′), Zac Portillos; F Sebastian Guenzatti, Georgi Hristov (Junior Flemmings 63′) (c)

Atlanta United 2 XI (4-3-3): GK Mitch Hildebrandt; D Shawn Nicklaw (Rodolfo Freitas da Silva 86′), Tyler Ruthven (Alessandro Castro 68′), AJ Cochran, Jack Metcalf (c); M Andrew Kendall-Moulin, Oliver Shannon, Kevin Barajas; F Laurent Kissiedou (Jackson Conway 74′), Devon Sandoval, Lagos Kunga

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (September 14, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies have added even more offensive firepower for the stretch run of the season with the signing of forward Jaime Chavez, the club announced Friday.

Chavez, 31, comes to the Rowdies after another stellar season with Miami FC in the NPSL. He scored nine goals in 11 appearances in 2018 in helping Miami win the NPSL Championship. 

“I played against Jaime in my second game in the United States and I was very impressed that night and I’ve been very impressed every time I’ve played him since then,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “With a couple injuries we’ve had, the choice to bring him in was a no-brainer. It’s not secret that we want to score more goals and Jaime can help us do that.”

Originally from Southern California, Chavez grew up in the Chivas USA youth academy before playing for various amateur teams across the Los Angeles area. He made his breakthrough into the professional ranks with the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2014. Chavez scored 20 goals in two seasons with the Silverbacks before making a move to Miami before the 2015 season.

“We’re at the point of the season where we need to start scoring goals if we want to make it into the playoffs,” said Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards. “Jaime had success scoring goals at other clubs and were looking for him to replicate that here. Our first objective is to make the playoffs and for that we need goal scorers like Jaime.”

The 2016 and 2017 seasons saw Chavez scored a combined 18 goals. He continued that form in the NPSL with Miami this season. 

In Tampa Bay, Chavez will be reunited with former teammates Kwadwo Poku (2014, 2016, 2017) and Daniel Vega (2015-2018). Chavez is eligible to make his Rowdies debut as early as tomorrow night against Atlanta United 2.

Additionally, the Rowdies have loaned forward Jochen Graf to Reno 1868 FC for the remainder of the USL season. 

CHARLESTON, S.C. (September 8, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies lost 1-0 to the  Charleston Battery at MUSC Health Stadium on Saturday night.

A 22nd minute goal by forward Patrick Okonkwo was the difference in a match which saw the Rowdies dominate in most of the stat columns.

Prior to going down a goal, forward Junior Flemmings had several chances on goal for the Rowdies but goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky was able to keep the visitors off the scoresheet. 

Charleston would get on the board in the 22nd minute, when Okonkwo beat defender Tarek Morad and went one-on-one with Daniel Vega. His finish hit the left post and went in to give the home side the lead.

Forward Sebastian Guenzatti nearly equalized in the 35th minute, but he was not expecting Leo Fernandes’ cross to make it through to him. His shot trickled just wide of the left post.

The Rowdies continued to dominate the match in the second half but were unable to capitalize on countless chances to equalize.

Most of those chances came after the 74th minute, including several from Guenzatti.

Unable to get a clean shot on frame towards the final minutes, the Rowdies saw their night dwindle down, as Charleston secured the three points.

The Rowdies are back in action this upcoming Saturday, September 15, when they host Atlanta United 2 at Al Lang Stadium. Remember, if the match sells out, the Rowdies will donate 15,000 to pediatric cancer research. For tickets, call 727-222-2000 or click here.

Scoring Summary
Charleston: Patrick Okonkwo – 22nd minute (assisted by Ian Svantesson)

Caution Summary
Charleston: Jay Bolt – 55th minute
Tampa Bay: Sebastian Guenzatti – 81st minute
Charleston: Leland Archer – 90+6 minute

Lineups
Rowdies (3-5-2): GK Daniel Vega; D Hunter Gorskie, Papé Diakité, Tarek Morad; M Afrim Taku, Joe Cole (Alex Morrell 68′), Dominic Oduro, Kwadwo Poku, Leo Fernandes (Zac Portillos 61′); F Junior Flemmings (Georgi Hristov 55′), Sebastian Guenzatti

Charleston (3-4-3): GK Joe Kuzminsky; D Skylar Thomas, Taylor Mueller, Leland Archer; M Nico Rittmeyer, Tah Brian Anunga, Angelo Kelly, Jay Bolt; F Kotaro Higashi (O’Brian Woodbine 76′), Patrick Okonkwo (Victor Mansaray 90+2′), Ian Svantesson (Gordon Wild 62′)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (September 7, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies will welcome Martin Paterson back to St. Petersburg in a new role as an assistant coach, Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins announced Friday.

Paterson played for the Rowdies in 2017 and became a fan favorite for the intensity and passion with which he plays. That passion will now be taught to the Rowdies from Paterson’s new platform on the coaching staff.

“Martin is a big addition to our team which also includes assistant coaches Joe Cole, Stuart Dobson and Cheyne Roberts,” Collins said. “Just like we’ve been signing players to make us better, we’re now bringing in Martin to make us better. This could be one of our biggest signings. He’s got passion for the club and he’s going to be a top, top coach. Me and him share the same beliefs and I know our players will enjoy working with him. If a bit of his intensity and will to win rubs off on the players, that would be great.”

Paterson scored nine goals in his lone season playing for the Rowdies. The majority of his playing career was spent in the United Kingdom, where he represented clubs including Stoke City, Burnley and Huddersfield Town, among others. He made 23 appearance the Northern Ireland national team.

“Bringing Martin into the coaching staff is a great addition for this final stretch of the season,” said Rowdies Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards. “His intensity and love of the game was one of the reasons he was successful on the pitch here as a player, and I am sure that will replicate on the sideline as a coach. We have a great coaching staff led by Neill and I am very excited for this final stretch of the season.”

Paterson is currently en route to Charleston to meet up with the Rowdies and take his place on the bench Saturday night against the Battery.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (September 4, 2018) — Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Sebastian Guenzatti has been named the USL Player of the Week for Week 25 of the 2018 season. Guenzatti scored in the 23rd, 43rd and 56th minutes of Saturday night’s 3-0 road win over North Carolina FC. It was the second hat trick in modern Rowdies history.

Guenzatti received 33 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market, narrowly edging out Toronto FC II’s Tsubasa Endoh on 29 percent.

Guenzatti is the second Rowdies player to be named USL Player of the Week this season. Junior Flemmings won the award in Week 19.

The full Team of the Week is below.

GK – Kendall McIntosh, Portland Timbers 2: McIntosh kept T2 in the game with a six-save shutout against Saint Louis FC that kept the game scoreless until the hosts grabbed a stoppage-time victory at Providence Park.

D – Je-Vaughn Watson, Charlotte Independence: The Jamaican international scored the only goal of the game in addition to winning four of four tackles and making 10 possession recoveries in a 1-0 win against Nashville SC on Saturday.

D – Allen Yanes, New York Red Bulls II: Yanes won five of five tackles and recorded five interceptions, three recoveries and two clearances in New York’s 1-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC.

D – Dekel Keinan, FC Cincinnati: Keinan scored the game-tying goal in Cincinnati’s comeback victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and won five of seven duels and recorded seven clearances defensively.

M – Saeed Robinson, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Robinson scored a late game-winner for the Switchbacks against Real Monarchs SLC after coming on as a second-half substitute last Wednesday night.

M – Lance Laing, San Antonio FC: Laing recorded a goal and assist to lead SAFC back from an early deficit to take a 3-1 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC last Wednesday night.

M – Tsubasa Endoh, Toronto FC II: Endoh had two goals and one assist, as TFC II took a 4-1 victory last Tuesday night against Louisville City FC.

M – Michael Reed, Nashville SC: Reed recorded a three-assist night, as Nashville took a 4-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers on Tuesday night and recorded 11 key passes for the week across two games.

F – Hadji Barry, Swope Park Rangers: Barry scored the game-winning goal in both of Swope Park’s victories over the week against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Wednesday night and OKC Energy FC on Sunday evening.

F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Guenzatti scored the first hat trick for the Rowdies this season to lead the side to a 3-0 victory against North Carolina FC on Saturday night.

F – Lagos Kunga, ATL UTD 2: Kunga scored both goals and recorded one key pass, as Atlanta took victory on the road against Toronto FC II last Friday night.

Bench: Daniel Vega (TBR), Joe Greenspan (PGH), Antoine Hoppenot (RNO), Aaron Dennis (PEN), Ariel Lassiter (LA), Cameron Lancaster (LOU), Ataulla Guerra (CHS)

Cary, N.C. (September 2, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies are coming home winners after a Sebastian Guenzatti hat trick helped them to a 3-0 win over North Carolina FC in the Tar Heel State on Saturday night.

Here’s Three Things from the match…

1. Sebastian’s sombrero
Rowdies forward Sebastian Guenzatti became only the second player in modern Tampa Bay Rowdies history to score a hat trick on Saturday night, scoring in the 23rd, 43rd and 56th minutes to boost the Rowdies to an important road win.

On his first goal, Guenzatti chipped North Carolina goalkeeper Alex Tambakis from close range. On his second and third goals, the hard work was in getting to the right spot for relatively easy finishes.

“It’s my first hat trick as a pro,” Guenzatti said. “It means a lot to me. As soon as the game finished, I went after the ball. No one was going to get that one apart from me. I’m going to keep that one.”

It’s been a trying season for Guenzatti, who hadn’t scored in 2018 prior to Saturday night. But, at last, he reaped the rewards of his perseverance.

Guenzatti played in 12 straight matches to start the season, but a lack of production had seen his minutes on the decline. As recently as August 11, Guenzatti was left out of the Rowdies’ matchday 18-man squad despite being healthy.

The Uruguayan forward never quit trying though. He kept his work rate up and performed well enough in training to get back into the squad on August 22 against Pittsburgh. He started last week’s match against Cincinnati — his first start since July 7 — and retained his place this week.

Let’s hope for more of that as the Rowdies make their playoff push.

2. Squeaky clean
Congratulations are in order for Rowdies goalkeeper Daniel Vega, who posted his first clean sheet for Tampa Bay on Saturday night. Vega made six saves on the night in the Rowdies’ sixth shutout of the year.

The Rowdies did it without center back Papé Diakité while he served a one-game suspension following his red card against Cincinnati a week earlier. In his place, left back Zac Portillos slid in as the left center back in a back three with Tarek Morad and Hunter Gorskie. Leo Fernandes played as the left wing back with Portillos forced inside.

It wasn’t a perfect performance by the Rowdies defensively, but a clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Special attention must go to Tarek Morad for this perfect recovery to deny Daniel Rios on a breakaway. Morad got into a good position and won the ball cleanly for the possession that would lead to the Rowdies’ goal less than 20 seconds later. Had that play gone differently, who knows how the rest of the match would have developed?

3. Streak busting
Tampa Bay said goodbye to a few not-so-nice streaks Saturday night.

Before beating North Carolina FC, the Rowdies hadn’t won since July 21, a span of five-consecutive matches that saw the Rowdies go winless in the month of August.

It was the Rowdies’ first road win since May.

The Rowdies hadn’t scored multiple goals in a game since July 28.

But that’s all in the past now as the Rowdies look like they’re moving in the right direction and ready for a serious push toward the postseason.

CARY, N.C. (September 1, 2018) — Sebastian Guenzatti became the second player in modern Tampa Bay Rowdies history to notch a hat trick, scoring all three goals Saturday night in the Rowdies’ 3-0 win over North Carolina FC at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Guenzatti scored in the 23rd, 43rd and 56th minutes to complete his hat trick and join Georgi Hristov in the Rowdies record books. 

His first-half brace saw Guenzatti become the 16th player in the Modern Era to score twice in a game, but only Hristov had ever finished the hat trick before Saturday night.

“We’ve been working really hard during the week and tonight I think we showed that we’re a tough team to play against,” Guenzatti said. “Everybody was running for each other and pushing each other on. I think that was the main thing today. We were all on the same page.”

North Carolina (9-10-7, 34 points) started as the aggressor, but once Guenzatti netted his first of the night, the Rowdies (8-11-7, 31 points) never looked back.

The go-ahead goal came in the 23rd minute when Rowdies forward Junior Flemmings spotted Guenzatti and fed the ball to him. Guenzatti chipped it over advancing North Carolina goalkeeper Alex Tambakis for the opening goal.

Flemmings and Guenzatti combined for the second time 20 minutes later when the Jamaican spotted his Uruguayan teammate with another cross. Guenzatti finished it first-time from seven yards out to double the Rowdies’ advantage just before halftime.

Flemmings is now the Rowdies’ assist leader this season with five, moving past Marcel Schäfer’s four.

Guenzatti picked up right where he left off in the second half with another simple finish on a pass from Leo Fernandes to finish the hat trick. Tampa Bay’s only previous hat trick was Hristov’s in a 4-1 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on September 24, 2016.

“It’s my first hat trick as a pro,” Guenzatti said. “It means a lot to me. As soon as the game finished, I went after the ball. No one was going to get that one apart from me. I’m going to keep that one.”

The win was the Rowdies’ third on the road this season, but was well-deserved after the Rowdies put in great performances against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in the last two matches without getting a victory.

“I felt that we weathered an early storm and we put into action what we worked on all week,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “Credit to our strikers for taking their opportunities, but equally, the way the team defended was what you ask for. I thought our lads put into action the game plan and tonight we got a reward for it when there have been many nights where we haven’t.”

Up next, the Rowdies face another tricky road trip to face the Charleston Battery next weekend before returning home to host Atlanta United 2 on Saturday, September 15.

Scoring Summary
Rowdies: Sebastian Guenzatti – 23rd minute (assisted by Junior Flemmings)
Rowdies: Sebastian Guenzatti – 43rd minute (assisted by Junior Flemmings)
Rowdies: Sebastian Guenzatti – 56th minute (assisted by Leo Fernandes)

Caution Summary
Rowdies: Dominic Oduro – 48th minute
North Carolina: Aaron Guillen – 61st minute
North Carolina: Marios Lomis – 76th minute
North Carolina: Connor Tobin – 81st minute
North Carolina: Austin da Luz – 92nd minute

Starting Lineups
Rowdies XI (3-5-2): GK Daniel Vega; D Hunter Gorskie, Tarek Morad, Zac Portillos; M Afrim Taku, Kwadwo Poku (Max Lachowecki 83′), Dom Oduro, Joe Cole (c) (Martin Vingaard 74′), Leo Fernandes; F Junior Flemmings, Sebastian Guenzatti (Georgi Hristov 89′)

NCFC (4-5-1): GK Alex Tambakis; D Aaron Guillen, Wuilito Fernandes (Marios Lomis 68′), Connor Tobin (c), DJ Taylor; M Steven Miller, Austin da Luz, Zach Steinberger, Graham Smith, Kyle Bekker (Tiyi Shipalane 68′); F Daniel Rios

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (August 26, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies took a gut punch Saturday night, completely outplaying the best team in the USL’s Eastern Conference only to lose on a pair of penalty kicks.

Here’s Three Things from the Rowdies’ controversial 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati…

1. The controversial decision
After finally finding an equalizer in the 75th minute, the Rowdies looked likely to find a game-winner and beat FC Cincinnati, but the tables turned in the 84th minute when Cincinnati was handed their second penalty kick of the night in controversial fashion and Papé Diakité was dismissed from the match with his second yellow card.

The decisive play is below.

Diakité advanced out to defend Pa Konate’s run into the box but slipped due to heavy rain that fell throughout the duration of pregame warmups and the entire match. Diakité was fully seated when Konate was still a foot or two away and the Rowdies’ big center back clearly won the ball with his right foot. Konate leapt over Diakité in what the Rowdies felt was an act of clear simulation, but center referee Kevin Broadley awarded Cincinnati another penalty kick and ejected Diakité from the match.

Emmanuel Ledesma would convert the penalty kick to give Cincinnati a late lead that could only be described as demoralizing for the Rowdies.

 “Tonight, more than any other night, I really can’t say anything but praise for my players because they did everything within their control to try and win a game of football,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said.

Despite the frustration, Rowdies defender Hunter Gorskie offered an inspirational tone about how the Rowdies will bounce back from this defeat.

“We have no choice (but to bounce back,)” he said. “When the world is against you, you have to just get up, dust yourself off and face it. Overcome it. That’s the only option. This will make it taste so much better at the end of the season when we do what we’re going to do.”

2. An offensive barrage
Penalty decisions aside, the Rowdies completely dominated FC Cincinnati on the night. Tampa Bay put in one of its best attacking performances of the season, amassing an incredible 31 shots against their first-place opposition.

The Rowdies will regret that 13 of those shots were blocked and only six were on target, but it was impressive nonetheless. Cincinnati only recorded three shots on goal, two of which came from the penalty spot.

In the words of Gorskie, if the Rowdies put in more performances like that in the nine remaining matches of this season, positive results will follow.

“We know we have the quality,” he said. “We know we haven’t had the results go our way this year, but it’s only a matter of time. We have that deep belief. That’s why we were able to come out and play good football. Now we just need to turn the final scores around.”

3. Thank You Tam
Rowdies defender Tamika Mkandawire announced Friday afternoon that he would retire following Saturday night’s match. With 99 Rowdies appearances under his belt heading into Saturday, he could have ended his 19-year playing career with a milestone 100th appearance in green and gold, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Mkandawire, who hasn’t appeared since August 3, missed out on the starting lineup and instead took a place on the substitutes bench. Unfortunately, the Rowdies didn’t need a defensive substitution on the night as they

completely suffocated a rather toothless Cincinnati attack.

But Mkandawire, a former Rowdies captain, didn’t need that 100th appearance to cement his status as a Tampa Bay Rowdies legend. The legacy he built for himself over his five seasons and 99 appearances doesn’t go away just because he didn’t play a few minutes off the bench Saturday night. His contributions won’t soon be forgotten.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (August 25, 2018) — The best team in the Eastern Conference needed not one, but two penalty kicks to beat the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rowdies thoroughly out-played first-place FC Cincinnati on the night, but an Emmanuel Ledesma penalty kick in the second minute and then another in the 86th minute helped the visitors to a win.

Kwadwo Poku scored Tampa Bay’s goal in the 75th minute, setting the stage for an exciting finish as the Rowdies overpowered 10-man Cincinnati, but it was ultimately futile after the late penalty.

Cincinnati’s Pa Konate created the decisive moment in the 86th minute, when he advanced into the box and then jumped over Papé Diakité’s legs in acrobatic fashion, drawing an extremely controversial penalty kick. Diakité was shown his second yellow card in three minutes in the incident, resulting in a red card.

“My career as a player was long and my career as a coach has been very short so far,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “In that time, which spans 20-odd years, I’ve had many ups and down. Tonight would quite easily go into the top five most frustrating evenings of my career. The team was fantastic. My heart breaks for them.”

Referee Kevin Broadley booked 10 different players in the match, dishing out a total of 12 yellow cards, in addition to the two penalty kicks.

The match didn’t start well for the Rowdies, with Afrim Taku being whistled for a foul in the box only 30 seconds after the opening whistle. Rowdies goalkeeper Daniel Vega got a hand to Ledesma’s penalty kick, but could not keep it out of the net.

From there, the Rowdies absolutely dominated FC Cincinnati but struggled to score the breakthrough goal.

Tampa Bay stifled Cincinnati to only three shots on target all night — two of which were penalty kicks — but amassed an astonishing 31 shots of its own. Cincinnati did well to block 13 of them and only six were on frame, but it was an impressive showing for the Rowdies’ attack against Cincinnati.

As the second half progressed, it felt like the Rowdies were destined to score an equalizer.

First, Dom Oduro had a rocket shot saved by a diving Evan Newton in the 51st minute. 

Ten minutes later, Cincinnati left back Blake Smith, who already had a yellow card, was booked for wasting time and dismissed from the match. 

Tampa Bay finally broke through in the 75th minute when Poku fooled Cincinnati’s Mike Lahoud with a shot fake before stepping around him and beating Newton with a right-footed shot from 23 yards out to tie the match at 1-1.

Two minutes later, the Rowdies had a golden chance to pull ahead, but Georgi Hristov’s shot was blocked by a heroic slide from Forrest Lasso.

The match turn a wicked turn in the 84th minute when Cincinnati scored its second penalty, but still the Rowdies fought onward. 

“It’s extremely frustrating, especially when the boys fight so hard” Rowdies defender Hunter Gorskie said. “We fight to get back in the game, score a good goal, have some other chances and then the second (penalty), Papé gets the whole ball and I don’t see anything other than. It’s just unfortunate.”

Hunter Gorskie flashed a shot inches wide of Newton’s right-hand post in the 89th minute and Hristov put a great chance over the crossbar in stoppage time after another silky play from Poku and the Rowdies ran out of time before tying the match for a second time.

“I’m just so disappointed for the players,” Collins said. “It’ll be a tough one to pick them up because they’ll feel really hard done by and rightly so.”

Up next, the Rowdies hit the road for visits to North Carolina FC and the Charleston Battery the next two weekends before returning home to host Atlanta United 2 on Saturday, September 15. For tickets, call (727) 222-2000 or click here.

Scoring Summary
Cincinnati: Emmanuel Ledesma – 2nd minute (Penalty Kick)
Rowdies: Kwadwo Poku – 75th minute
Cincinnati: Emmanuel Ledesma – 85th minute (Penalty Kick)

Caution Summary
Rowdies: Afrim Taku – 1st minute
Rowdies: Joe Cole – 15th minute
Rowdies: Kwadwo Poku – 43rd minute
Cincinnati: Blake Smith – 50th minute
Cincinnati: Blake Smith – 62nd minute (Second Yellow)
Rowdies: Zac Portillos – 67th minute
Rowdies: Dominic Oduro – 80th minute
Rowdies: Papé Diakité – 82nd minute
Rowdies: Papé Diakité – 85th minute (Second Yellow)
Cincinnati: Paddy Barrett – 89th minute
Cincinnati: Evan Newton – 92nd minute
Rowdies: Michael Nanchoff – 96th minute

Rowdies XI (3-5-2): GK Daniel Vega; D Hunter Gorskie, Papé Diakité, Tarek Morad; M Afrim Taku (Georgi Hristov 68′), Kwadwo Poku, Dom Oduro, Joe Cole (c) (Michael Nanchoff 56′), Zac Portillos; F Junior Flemmings, Sebastian Guenzatti (Leo Fernandes 75′)

FC Cincinnati XI (4-4-2): GK Evan Newton; D Justin Hoyte, Paddy Barrett (c), Forrest Lasso, Blake Smith; M Michael Lahoud, Fatai Alashe (Kenney Walker 55′), Nazmi Albadawi, Jimmy McLaughlin; F Emmanuel Ledesma, Fanendo Adi (Pa Konate 67′)