Tampa Bay Rowdies Beat The Atlantic Silverbacks 2-1 In Fall Opener
Soccer News: The Atlanta Silverbacks opened the NASL Fall Season on the road, swapping own goals with the Tampa Bay Rowdies before falling 2-1 in a close, defensive game that limited both sides’ shots on target.
Atlanta’s solid defense dicated the opening 20 minutes, but Tampa Bay’s three forwards forced an Atlanta error in the 22nd minute. After a turnover in defensive third and a struggle to clear the ball inside their own 18-yard-box, a failed clearance off the line redirected the ball into Atlanta’s net.
The Rowdies continued applying pressure, scoring again in the 30th minute when fullback Darnell King sliced his way up the right side of the field, maneuvering into the 18-yard-box to pick out a shot on the near post. Atlanta goalkeeper CJ Cochran stretched to deflect it, but came just short.
The own goals continued, this time in Atlanta’s favor, in the 36th minute. A Paul Black corner kick found the head of Rowdies defender Stefan Antonijevic and glanced into his own net.
The two teams held onto that 2-1 scoreline as they headed into the locker rooms.
Atlanta came out of halftime more productive, with midfielder and Peachtree City-native Josh Hughes getting his first shot on goal in the 46th minute. Matt Pickens, an MLS veteran, parried it away. Not two minutes later, forward Shaka Bangura made his way down the field, getting fouled right outside the 18-yard-box. Unfortunately, the ensuing free kick from Black went right to Pickens’ midsection.
In the 61st minute, Atlanta got an injection of life with the substitution of Ferrety Sousa. Sousa’s footwork and vision increased the attack in a major way during the first part of his insertion into the game. The midfielder roamed pretty freely, causing stress to the Rowdies players all over the field.
Cochran had arguably his best save of the night in the 75th minute. Rowdies midfielder, was given a low cross into the box, right in front of the goal. Nunez ripped off a show to the lower corner, but Cochran stretched out a leg to deflect an otherwise sure goal.
Hughes almost scored in the last minutes of the second half. A cross into the box saw Hughes almost connect with a diving header. Unfortunately, Pickens slid himself into position first, grabbing the ball in the process.
The game ended with the same 2-1 scoreline the teams had at the half. The Silverbacks now look ahead to their first home game of the NASL Fall season against Jacksonville Armada FC on July 11th (7:30 p.m. | Tickets).
Match Report:
Starting XI:
Atlanta Silverbacks: Head Coach – Gary Smith
(4-4-2) Cochran, Christian (89’ – A. Bangura), McKenzie, Mensing, Black, Porter (82’ – Oppong), Hughes, Mravec, Okafor, Bangura (61’ – Sousa), Horth
Tampa Bay Rowdies: Head Coach – Thomas Rongen
(4-3-3) Pickens, King, Antonijevic, Mkandawire, Sweat, Guerra, Nunez (82’ – Chavez), Shriver, Hernandez (68’ – Hristov), Hertzog, Espinal
Officials:
Referee: Marcos De Oliveira
Assistant Referees: Matthew Miscannon, Abdel Kuttaineh
4th Official: Daniel Gutierrez
Match Facts:
- Josh Hughes, Michal Mravec, and Christopher Christian all made their first starts of the year, with Hughes making his NASL debut.
- Abdul Bangura made his first appearance in the 18, since earning promotion from the Silverbacks Reserves earlier in the week.
- Four individuals featured with Metro Atlanta ties: Josh Hughes, CJ Cochran, Shaka Bangura, and Abdul Bangura.
- Tonight was the first of a three-game opening slate against Florida teams. The Silverbacks play Jacksonville Armada FC before traveling to Fort Lauderdale to take on the Strikers.
Scoring Summary:
22’ – TBR: Rauwshan McKenzie (OG)
30’ – TBR: Darnell King
36’ – ATL: Stefan Antonijevic (OG)
Caution Summary:
56’ – ATL: Michal Mravec (Caution)
63’ – TBR: Corey Hertzog (Caution)
