The Rowdies controlled play, but couldn't score.
Thursday, 1 a.m.
The hot streak of the Tampa Bay Rowdies came to an end Wednesday night as the team played its fourth game in 12 days.
The Rowdies (6-3-2) lost a 1-0 game to the Rochester Rhinos.
The Rhinos’ Wal Fall scored the only goal of the match in the 27th minute, putting in his own rebound after Tampa Bay goalkeeper Matt Pickens made the initial save.
“We’ve been on a real good run of late and it’s disappointing it’s come to an end tonight,” Rowdies coach Stuart Campbell said. “I think the way we started the game cost us. We started the game too slow. Their first shot on goal they managed to get a goal ahead and it was hard for us to claw back.”
The Rowdies had several players who got the night off due to the heavy schedule, including star Joe Cole.
“I think it was a game of very few chances,” Campbell said. “Neither team created that many clear-cut chances. Off the top of my head, I can think of only one clear-cut chance for us, when (Martin Paterson) couldn’t direct a header in the goal.”
Campbell said fatigue didn’t get the best of Tampa Bay on Wednesday night.
“We’re on a long stretch of games, but I don’t think that played a factor tonight,” Campbell said. “I think the way we moved the ball, we looked really fit and really strong, even in the final minutes when we pressed and pressed for the equalizer.”
It was a staunch defensive performance for the Rowdies, not allowing a shot on except for those few seconds that created the goal, but the offensive unit was not on the same page. Martin Paterson had Tampa Bay’s best offensive chance of the night in the 76th minute, heading a cross from the left wing just wide of target.
“It’s very disappointing to lose tonight,” Rowdies center back Neill Collins said. “The manner of the defeat was probably the most disappointing thing. We came here with good intentions, but never quite got going in the first half. … I don’t think it was much of a game, in terms of quality of football. We tried to pass the ball in the second half, but couldn’t break them down. Credit to them, they were very well organized.”
Tampa Bay center back Damion Lowe, who has played every minutes of the Rowdies’ 12 matches this season in all competitions, received his fifth yellow card of the year in the second half, meaning he’ll be suspended from the Rowdies’ next match.
The Rowdies return home to face Saint Louis FC at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, May 27.
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