ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rowdies celebrated Pride Night by taking down the Oakland Roots on Friday night and it was a clinical performance that saw them take the win at Al Lang Stadium. Clinical upfront and at the back, it was dominance in the air that helped the hosts control the match and get a comfortable 3-0 win.
Despite losing possession by 11 percentage points the Rowdies were still able to control the match by winning the aerial duels, allowing them to dictate how plays would start and control the match from the outset of the ball being released out the back. The Rowdies won 68 percent of those duels leading to the control that would help them out.
When looking at the shot chart the differences are stark, Tampa Bay managed 20 shots in the match, nine of them on target. It showed a phenomenal element of patience as the Rowdies took 13 shots inside the box and finished with a stunning 45 percent on target. By comparison, Oakland only hit the target once and had one shot by Emrah Klimenta that was especially bad, closer to the corner flag than the goal.
The one downside from an attacking perspective was crossing accuracy, which was a poor 12.5 percent. But with the way the Rowdies are playing right now, predominately through the middle, it’s not needed but doing poorly at it limits the options and having limited options makes you predictable.
For all that impressive attacking data the Rowdies managed one of the most stunning defensive statistics possible, achieving perfection in their tackling. This included several tackles further up the pitch showing that the defense was a full team effort, not just the back-line.
With two matches this week Tampa Bay will have to be at its best to keep the form going but the performance against Oakland was so clinical it’s hard to see where things will drop off.
Photo courtesy Tampa Bay Rowdies
Florida Soccer Report 