KANSAS CITY, Kan. (July 7, 2019) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies set a new Modern Era club record for road victories in a season with a 3-1 win over the Swope Park Rangers on Sunday afternoon to remain atop the USL Championship standings.
The Rowdies (11-1-6, 39 points) are now 6-0-2 on the road this season. Juan Tejada, Sebastian Guenzatti and Malik Johnson all scored to spot the Rowdies a 3-0 lead by the hour mark. Ethan Vanacore-Decker scored late for the hosts, but the result was never in doubt.
Tejada opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a diving header on a beautiful assist from Yann Ekra for his seventh goal of the season.
Tejada was on the attack again in the 39th minute, capitalizing on an errant pass from Swope Park (2-9-6, 12 points) goalkeeper Eric Dick to take possession in the Rangers box. Swope Park center back Graham Smith had no choice but to foul Tejada and give away a penalty kick in the process. Guenzatti stepped up to the spot and fired it low to Dick’s left hand to double Tampa Bay’s lead with his team-high ninth goal of the season.
This is the third consecutive week that Tejada and Guenzatti have both scored. Guenzatti is now tied for fourth in the Championship Golden Boot race. Tejada is tied for 16th.
Guenzatti provided the assist on the Rowdies third goal with a tremendous backheel pass to Johnson just outside the corner of the 18-yard box. Johnson took a touch into the box, then faked left before cutting right to beat Smith before firing a low hard shot through Dick’s legs to extend Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-0.
Swope Park earned a lifeline in the 72nd minute when Johnson was adjudged to have committed a foul in the Rowdies own defensive 18-yard box, giving the hosts a penalty kick.
Rowdies goalkeeper Macklin Robinson, making his first appearance of the season, saved Vanacore-Decker’s penalty kick, but the rebound fell right to him for an easy finish.
With another road victory under their belt, the Rowdies now lead the Eastern Conference by five points, though Indy does have two games in hand in second place. The Rowdies will visit the Pittsburgh Riverhounds next weekend before returning home to host Saint Louis FC on Saturday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to that match are available here.
Scoring Summary
Tampa Bay: Juan Tejada – 14th minute (assisted by Yann Ekra)
Tampa Bay: Sebastian Guenzatti – 39th minute (penalty kick)
Tampa Bay: Malik Johnson – 58th minute (assisted by Sebastian Guenzatti
Swope Park: Ethan Vanacore-Decker – 72nd minute
Caution Summary
Swope Park: Wan Kuzain – 37th minute
Swope Park: Graham Smith – 38th minute
Tampa Bay: Zach Steinberger – 45+1 minute
Swope Park: Mark Segbers – 45+3 minute
Tampa Bay: Malik Johnson – 54th minute
Tampa Bay: Pape Diakite – 62nd minute
Starting Lineups
Rowdies XI (3-5-2): GK Macklin Robinson; D Tarek Morad, Pape Diakite, Caleb Richards; M Malik Johnson (Shawn Barry 73′), Yann Ekra, Zach Steinberger (Kwadwo Poku 49′), Dom Oduro, Leo Fernandes (David Najem 87′); F Sebastian Guenzatti (c), Juan Tejada
Swope Park XI (4-3-3): GK Eric Dick; D Mark Segbers (Tyler Freeman 78′), Kaveh Rad (Jacob Davis 66′), Graham Smith (c), Alexsander Andrade; M Ayyoub Allach, Wan Kuzain, Rassambek Akhmatov; F Will Little (Killian Colombie 54′), Ethan Vanacore-Decker, Jerome Ngom Mbekeli
