St. Petersburg, Fla. (Saturday, April 9) – The Miami Football Club won its first-ever road game against Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night. Right-winger Pierre Da Silva scored the lone goal to give Miami FC three points on the road.
Head coach Anthony Pulis changed his usual lineup up with a five-player backline. The defensive line featured center-backs Aedan Stanley, Ben Ofeimu and Paco Craig, and full-backs Othello Bah and Mark Segbers. Midfielders Devon “Speedy” Williams and Florian Valot anchored the midfield. Forwards Josh Perez, Pierre Da Silva and Romeo Parkes led the frontline. Goalkeeper Connor Sparrow started in goal for the third time this season.
Parkes got the action started early for Miami, producing the first shot of the game after dispossessing a defender in the 8th-minute. Perez followed up with a chance that sailed wide of the goal in the 17th-minute. Three minutes later, Stanley tested the keeper with a powerful free-kick attempt saved by Tampa Bay goalkeeper CJ Cochran.
The home side applied more pressure in the last 25 minutes of the encounter, forcing Miami’s backline to defend. Craig was shown a yellow card by the referee and Ofeimu made a couple of blocks in the process.
The two sides returned to the locker room after a goalless 45 minutes.
Miami FC stunned Tampa Bay Rowdies early in the second half, with Da Silva making the best out of a rebound. Perez shot from outside of the box, goalkeeper CJ Cochran saved it and the 23-year-old winger squeezed the ball past him and into the goal.
The South Florida side stayed composed after the goal, with the defense keeping danger away from the goal. The Rowdies knocked on the door a couple of times, but Sparrow and the defenders dealt with it well.
Miami FC ended the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ four-game undefeated streak in USL Championship play. The Orange and Blue sit seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Up next for Miami FC
Miami FC hosts Hartford Athletic at FIU Stadium on Saturday, April 16, at 7 p.m. ET. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a one-all draw at Hartford in August 2021.
Hartford currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference with only one point to its name. They will face Birmingham Legion on Sunday, before traveling to face Miami next weekend. Fans can buy tickets for the game here.
