MIAMI, Fla. (July 16, 2017) — The Rowdies PDL squad, for the second straight game, picked up a point as they played a rare 0-0 tie against FC Miami City on the road.
The point proved critical as it prevented the playoff bound Miami team from winning the Southeast Division although the window had been opened to them.
After SIMA’s match against The Villages SC went final around the 60th minute of the Miami match, the hosts were afforded an opportunity to be crowned Southeast champions with a win over the Rowdies.
This did not come to fruition as the Rowdies U23’s held strong against a team that had their way with them in the initial home match.
Although completing a clean sheet, the Rowdies made a goalie substitution to start the second half which proved effective. Sean Caufield and Chris Morrish both held their own on the backline preventing any and all Miami attacks.
It was truly a night for Rowdies goaltenders as even Christian Knight got in on the action on Saturday…as a forward.
Crazy as it seemed, the 3-time starter in net was effective in his short time in the field against Miami and played a critical role in pressuring the opposing backline.
Despite being short a number of key starters due to the beginning of college camps, the Rowdies more than held their own against their southern opponents.
One of the few negatives of the night turned out to be quite a large one. Around the 15th minute of the game, center back Andre Lowe was down in the Rowdies box for an extending period of time after he landed directly on his back attempting a header.
The injury looked to be quite severe and the stoppage lasted at least ten minutes while trainers on both sides were attending to the fallen Tampa Bay player.
There are no updates on Lowe’s current status but he did not return to the game and is doubtful to return for the club’s final match on Monday against IMG.
Scoring Summary
Caution Summary
Tampa Bay: Kendan Anderson – 72nd Minute
Miami: Ethan Sonis – 72nd Minute
Tampa Bay: Gustavo Fernandes – 90th Minute
Starting Lineups
Rowdies U23 XI (4-3-3): GK Sean Caufield (Chris Morrish 46′); D Macsen Pritchard (Ivan Castro 46′), Gustavo Fernandes, Andre Lowe (Preston Kilwien 11′), Pico Espinal; M Connar Lufkin, Jordan Day, Gabriel Fernandes; F Caleb George (Christian Knight 78′), Morgan Shepherd (Noah Franke 60′), Kendan Anderson
FC Miami City XI (4-3-3): GK Mehdi Taieb; D Jon Colino (Yerandy Suarez 60′), Jonathan Parpeix, Fares Mouri, Christopher Davis; M Abderraouf Abdallah, Jonathan Padjen (Ethan Sonis 18′), Adam Chahti (Kevin Warton 79′); F Bryan Perea, Mouhoub Merabet, Zakariae Merzouk
