Match Preview: Rowdies vs Las Vegas
September 2, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
Matchday 27 Info
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Las Vegas Lights FC
Saturday, September 3, 7:30 p.m. ET
St. Petersburg, FL, Al Lang Stadium
Tickets: Fans can purchase tickets for the match here or at the Al Lang Stadium box office starting at 4 pm on matchday.
C&C Lemonade Factory: September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the Rowdies are proud to support this cause with C&C Lemonade Factory. Stop by the pop-up lemonade stand at Al Lang and make a donation.
Pre-game: Get set for the match with the pregame show hosted by The Unused Substitutes podcast. Tune in live starting at 6:30 pm ET on Twitch.TV/RowdiesGG
Stream: Fans can watch the match on ESPN+.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies return to action at Al Lang Stadium this Saturday versus their third straight Western Conference opponent. Coming to town this week is Las Vegas Lights FC, who sit seventh in the standings out west, putting them in that conference final postseason spot for now.
Las Vegas’ grip on a playoff berth may be slipping away, with the club only managing one win its last seven outings. First-year head coach Enrique Duran’s suffered a 5-0 defeat just last Saturday at the hands of Rio Grande Valley FC.
Tampa Bay’s Playoff Picture
A playoff spot is within sight for the Rowdies this Saturday, though not entirely within their control. Heading into the weekend, the Rowdies number to clinch a playoff spot in 5 points. However, a Rowdies win coupled with a loss by 8th place FC Tulsa would lock the Rowdies into the postseason for the fourth straight season.
Tampa Bay’s aim goes beyond just getting into the playoffs. After enjoying the benefits of hosting every round of the postseason last year as the top overall seed, the Rowdies are keen to make ground on the teams ahead of them in the standings. They got some help with that on Wednesday, as both first-place Louisville City FC and Memphis 901 FC feel in their midweek clashes. The Rowdies now sit four points back of Louisville and are even on points with Memphis.
“People from week to week get very excited or disappointed,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “There’s a lot of games to be played. In this league more than others, it depends where you are on your schedule…. We’re very focused on ourselves. Without us picking up results, it doesn’t matter what other teams do. We’re going to try to pick up as many games as we can. Yeah, we lost a couple of 1-0 games. If we perform like we did last week and keep winning games then Louisville will have to keep doing the same.”
Fernandes Team of the Week, Again
It’s no coincidence that the Rowdies snapped a two-match scoreless streak on the same night Leo Fernandes had a goal and an assist to earn his third USL Championship Team of the Week selection of the season. The veteran now leads the team with 13 goals and 6 assists. Tampa Bay has posted nine wins and two draws on nights when Fernandes scores a goal.
“Leo is an example of someone who’s always pushing to get better,” said Collins. “I don’t think what you’re seeing is someone who’s more motivated. He’s just full of confidence and enjoying his football.”
Castellanos Gets His 90
Nearly six months after fracturing his ankle in the season opener at Birmingham Legion FC, Robert Castellanos was back in the starting lineup for the Rowdies. Castellanos, on loan from Nashville SC, re-joined the Rowdies in early August and proved he had quality to offer the Rowdies in their final playoff push as not just a defensive option off the bench, but as a potential starter. Castellanos played the full 90 minutes in the win over Orange County. That shift included over half an hour of the Rowdies playing down a man. Even still, the Rowdies only conceded from a free kick and gave up few scoring chances on frame with Castellanos helping to anchor the back line.
“The fact that he looked like he’d been there all season is the biggest compliment I can pay Caste,” said Collins. “I forgot at times that was his first game back as a starter. Sometimes that can be an easier one when the adrenaline’s there and pumping, but he really brought a great assuredness, a real aerial dominance. He’ll only get better.”
Upcoming Milestones
Sebastian Guenzatti is two goals away from breaking the Rowdies all-time scoring record of 60 goals held by Georgi Hristov.
Lucky Mkosana is one appearance away from his 100th appearance for the Rowdies.
Keeper CJ Cochran is one clean sheet away from his 30th shutout in the USL Championship.
Forward Kyle Greig is nearing 15,000 minutes played in the USL Championship regular season. He currently sits at 14,809 minutes played heading into the weekend.
Injury Report:
OUT: Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Jake Areman
SUSPENDED: Yann Ekra
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