LEESBURG, Va. — It was a typical performance from the Tampa Bay Rowdies which saw them get a professional win against Loudoun United. Losing possession, but winning aerial duels and sending in accurate crosses and shots proved to be the difference for the Rowdies.
Yet again the team lost possession giving up over a 60 percent share of the ball. Despite that, the Rowdies made up for it by winning the battles in the air. The team won 68.8 percent of the battles in the air which allowed them to make more of their possession share and create more chances.
Another thing that helped Tampa Bay make the most of the ball it did have was by crossing in accurately. The Rowdies were more successful due to what they were doing with the crosses. Loudoun was almost always bombing a ball forward into the box, this kept the Rowdies running flat and with the ball in front of them. By comparison, the Rowdies were sending the ball backward, which puts a team on its heels and catches them out. That allowed them to have a 31.3 percent success rate.
By having accurate crosses Tampa Bay was able to create more chances and have a lot more shots at goal winning that count 7-16. The shots on target count were even more lop-sided as the hosts were kept to just one shot on target. The visitors managed 37.5 percent of shots being on target, which was, of course, the difference.
Of course in a tight match, the defense is also going to matter a lot and that was the case in this match as well. The key statistic here is clearances, the Rowdies made 20 clearances, compared to only having five of theirs cleared away. With so many balls cleared away, it was difficult for Loudoun to score, while the Rowdies were scarcely stopped from getting chances away, resulting in the win.
Photo courtesy Tampa Bay Rowdies
Florida Soccer Report 