ROCHESTER, N.Y. (May 24, 2017) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies suffered a loss on the field Wednesday night and suffered a handicap for their next match as they lost 1-0 on the road to the Rochester Rhinos.
It was the Rowdies’ first visit to Rochester since 2010, but it was one Tampa Bay will hope to move past quickly. Here’s three things from the match…
1. A road loss
Tampa Bay bettered a few of its long-running adversaries last Friday, winning a road match on turf after falling behind, but it couldn’t match the feat Wednesday night.
After conceding a goal in the 27th minute, Tampa Bay failed to create enough offensive moment to earn a result. The Rowdies had just one shot on target.
Defensively, the Rowdies actually put in a pretty strong shift.
Rochester recorded just two shots on target in the match and they were in quick succession of one another. Rhinos midfielder Wal Fall was the recipient of a corner kick in the 27th minute and directed a shot on target which was saved by Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Unfortunately, the rebound went straight back to Fall for the finish.
“Neither team created many clear-cut chances,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said.
With the loss, Tampa Bay’s road record this season falls to 1-2-2 (W-T-L) this season.
2. Lowe’s suspension
Tampa Bay will head into Saturday’s match against Saint Louis without Jamaican defender Damion Lowe, who received his fifth yellow card of the season Wednesday night, triggering an automatic one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Lowe was booked in the 55th minute, seemingly with assistance from the Video Assistant Referee after a review. Wednesday night’s match was the Rowdies’ first-ever with the VAR system. After the ball went out of play in the Rowdies’ attacking half, center referee Matthew Franz held up play and crossed the field to where Lowe was standing. After about 30 seconds of stoppage, Franz showed the yellow card to Lowe.
The Jamaican defender has been impressive in his first season with the Rowdies, playing every minute of all 12 matches so far this year, including the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
If there’s a saving grace to Lowe’s suspension this coming weekend, it’s that he should be rested and ready for the Rowdies’ visit to Miami FC in the Third Round of the Open Cup next Wednesday.
3. Coming home
Tampa Bay has played three of its last four USL matches away from home, but has the chance to return to Al Lang Stadium this weekend. The Rowdies have won five of six home league matches so far this season and kept five clean sheets.
While it will be at home, the match will come on extremely short rest. After traveling home later Thursday, Tampa Bay will play its fifth match in 15 days Saturday night.
There’s no rest for the weary, but at least the Rowdies won’t have to wait long to make up for last night’s loss.
