March 9, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
Tampa Bay Rowdies exchange congratulations
(Tampa Bay Rowdies)
KISSIMMEE, Fla – The Tampa Bay Rowdies capped off their preseason with a convincing 3-0 victory over MLS Next Pro side Orlando City B on Friday night at Osceola Heritage Park. It’s the fifth win of the preseason for the Rowdies, who are now set for next week’s season opener against San Antonio FC on March 16 at Al Lang Stadium.
“Really, really pleased with the performance tonight,” said Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson. “It’s great to get the win and to score three goals. Look, I’ve been really happy with the team’s performance in the preseason, but there’s no medals handed out in the preseason. We have to make sure we’re ready next week for San Antonio. We’ve managed to get through the preseason in good condition. Now the real football starts.”
Tampa Bay wasted no time jumping out in front of Orlando in Friday’s contest. In just the 7th minute, midfielder Blake Bodily played a well-weighted through ball for Damian Rivera in the final third. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder made the most of the opportunity as he drove toward goal before firing a shot over the shoulder of the keeper and into the back of the net.
The Rowdies kept Orlando under pressure throughout most of the match, pinning the hosts down in their own end of the field and creating numerous chances. Only five minutes after Rivera’s opening tally, midfielder Danny Crisostomo doubled the lead with a shot from the center of the box off of a cross from wing back Pacifique Niyongabire.
“The players have been really good about implementing the press and being aggressie and getting after it,” said Neilson. “Now it’s about the other side of it. It’s about working on when we get the ball back, playing with that calmness. I thought we did that. That’s always a difficult thing to have and I think we’re starting to show that ability in our play.”
It continued to be a quiet night in net for keeper Jordan Farr as his teammates in front of him held the ball and prevented Orlando from moving up the field much at all. Tampa Bay’s third and final goal of the night finally came in the 86th minute when Bodily picked off a pass in Orlando’s box and slipped a pass across for Leo Fernandes to bury into the bottom left corner of the goal. Fernandes has now scored in all three of his preseason appearances.
While the rest of the USL Championship kicks off this weekend,…