ST. PETERSBURG, Fla (April 20, 2024) – The Tampa Bay Rowdies and El Paso Locomotive FC traded jabs in the second half to finish knotted 1-1 at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night. With the draw, the Rowdies remain unbeaten through their first six matches of the season.
Tampa Bay were not lacking chances in the match. The Rowdies took 21 total shots on the night, peppering El Paso’s goal with 9 attempts on frame.
“The boys were outstanding,” said Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson. “I think that was probably the most chances we’ve created in a game. We just couldn’t get that wee final moment. If we play like that throughout the season, we’ll be in a happy place throughout the season.”
In the 29th minute, the Rowdies produced a flurry of chances in El Paso’s box. Receiving a cross on the left edge of the six-yard-box, Rowdies attacker Joshua Perez fired a shot past keeper Jahmali Waite but was denied by a diving goal line clearance from defender Noah Dollenmayer. The rebound fell for Cal Jennings, whose rebound effort was blocked. Midfielder Danny Crisostomo had one more crack at goal but he was also stymied by a block.
Crisostomo aimed to break the deadlock five minutes into the second half with a powerful one-timed effort but sent his shot into the left post.
The visitors were the first to strike in the match. In the 64th minute, Javier Nevarez quickly restarted play after a Rowdies foul, passing to teammate Joaquin Rivas, who laid it back for Nevarez. Looking up to spot Rowdies keeper Jordan Farr off his line, Nevarez launched a hopeful bomb from 60 yards out that held up just enough to sneak under the crossbar and put El Paso ahead.
Just one minute later, Farr was called upon to parry a dangerous long-range effort by Amando Moreno over the bar.
Tampa Bay found their equalizer in the 74th minute. Cutting inside from the left flank, Crisostomo delivered a cross on a platter for forward Manuel Arteaga to redirect into the back of the net.
“(Manu and I) have a great relationship off the field and that definitely helps on the field,” said Crisostomo. “When I cut, I imagined where he would be and he was there and he scored the goal. It was a great finish. That connection is going to grow as the season goes on.”
In the 84th minute, Rowdies players protested for a penalty after Jennings was clipped down in the box while looking to connect with a dangerous cross from Pacifique Niyongabire but no whistle came.
Arteaga was inches away from a winner in the 87th minute but was denied by an outstanding stop from Waite. Second half substitute Charlie Dennis created the scoring chance from the right corner, sending a cross in for Arteaga to head down and on target only for Waite to scoop the ball off the line at the last second.
“I can not fault the players one single bit,” said Neilson. “We lost a goal today that was an absolute worldie. One of the best goals you’ll ever see. Other than that, we controlled the game, we created loads of chances, the players worked hard…The performance was really good, the result is not what we wanted.”
Next up, the Rowdies remain at home to host New Mexico United on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets for the match can be purchased here.
Scoring Summary
ELP – Nevarez, 64′
TBR – Arteaga (Crisostomo), 74′
Caution Summary
ELP – Calvillo, Yellow Card, 1’
ELP – Nevarez, Yellow Card, 8’
ELP – Alfaro, Yellow Card, 9’
TBR – Perez, Yellow Card, 18’
ELP – Rose, Yellow Card, 55’
TBR – Munjoma, Yellow Card
Lineups
Rowdies: Farr, Doherty, Lasso Guillen, Munjoma, Hilton (Dennis, 78′), Crisostomo, Bodily (Rivera, 60′), Jennings, Arteaga, Perez (Niyongabire)
Rowdies Bench: Breno, Kleemann, Dezart, Skubis, Dennis, Niyongabire, Ortiz, Rivera
El Paso: Waite, Akinyode, Dollenmayer, Alfaro, Nevaez (Hinds, 75′), Stauffer (Lyons ,90′), Rivas (Moshobane, 74′), Rose, Calvillo (Garay,75′), Dhillon, Moreno (Pelua,86′)
El Paso Bench: Pasquel, Hinds, Lyons, Pelua, Garay, Yuma, Moshobane
