MIAMI – Miami FC has managed its first USL Championship win over in-state rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies with a 2-1 win at FIU Stadium on Wednesday night.
Both goals for Miami came on set-pieces, taking full advantage of some unusual mistakes from their opponents to get the win.
The opening goal came in the 21st minute when the hosts regathered possession from a corner and Richard Ballard to swing the ball into the box for Pierre Da Silva to set up a wide-open Adonijah Reid who tapped it home.
That would be all the scoring in the first half and in the second the Rowdies came back to level it, scoring in the 51st minute. Lewis Hilton sent in a big free-kick for Jordan Scarlett who was able to head home the goal, his first of the season.
Usually, a goal for the Rowdies spurs them on but that didn’t happen here, and in the 77th minute Miami had the winner. Again Tampa Bay failed to clear a corner completely which allowed Christian Francois to cross in for Callum Chapman-Page who made no mistake at the far post.
It wasn’t all bad defensively for the visitors. Evan Louro was at his best in the early stages to prevent Reid from scoring the opener sooner than he did. Reid got past the Rowdies’ defense but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper who made a strong save.
10 minutes in the Rowdies could have opened the scoring as Max Lachowecki hit it powerfully but an acrobatic save from Connor Sparrow kept the match scoreless.
In stoppage time Tampa Bay felt they had a shout for a penalty after a handball but the referee deemed it unintentional and Miami held on for the win.
Photo courtesy Miami FC/Orovio Photography
Florida Soccer Report 