The Basics
Atlanta United 2 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Wednesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
Fifth Third Bank Stadium, Kennesaw, Georgia
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast online on ESPN+ here. International viewers can watch the match here.
Records
Tampa Bay: 3-0-3 (W-L-T); 1-0-1 on road; 4th place
Atlanta: 3-2-1 (W-L-T); 2-2-0 at home; 8th place
Rowdies Notes
The Tampa Bay Rowdies head to Atlanta after a bye week to rest following the first six games of the season. The Rowdies last match was a 1-1 draw against Louisville City FC at home on April 13. The Rowdies led for most of that night after Andrew Tinari’s 15th minute goal, only to concede in the 88th minute and drop two points. It was only the second goal conceded by the Rowdies this season.
The Rowdies slipped from second place in the Eastern Conference to fourth place in the their time off, but they are now the lone unbeaten team in the conference. Fresno FC is undefeated in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Tampa Bay will be shorthanded this week as injuries and suspensions start to pile up. Forward Antoine Hoppenot will serve a one-game suspension handed to him retroactively by the Independent Discipline Panel after the match against Louisville. Fellow forwards Jaime Siaj and Malik Johnson remained sidelined by injuries. Neither player has feature yet this season.
A pair of key contributors could also be sidelined by ankle injuries picked up over the weekend in Yann Ekra and Shawn Barry. If neither is able to play, that would mean the Rowdies would be without five players, leaving a squad of only 19 available players.
Rowdies goalkeeper John McCarthy is tied for the Championship lead with four clean sheets in six matches. He has conceded just two goals all season. He made a season-high seven saves against Louisville. He was named to the Team of the Week for that performance.
The Rowdies have been strong away from home this season, though this will be only their third trip away from St. Petersburg this season, posting a 1-0-1 record win a win in Memphis and a draw against Saint Louis.
Injury Report
OUT: F Malik Johnson (separated shoulder)
OUT: F Jaime Siaj (quad strain)
DOUBTFUL: D Shawn Barry (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: M Yann Ekra (ankle)
Suspension Report
Suspended: F Antoine Hoppenot (one game, eligible to return April 27)
