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Rowdies Revel in Passing Major Test

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/09/17, 9:17AM EDT

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Hristov’s third goal saw off challenge from Fury FC in front of crowd of 5,310


Photo courtesy Matt May / Tampa Bay Rowdies

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – There were certainly similarities to their first two wins of the season in the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ 1-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC, earned in front of 5,310 fans at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night.

Tampa Bay (3-0-0, 9pts) again controlled the bulk of possession with 70 percent of the ball, and was sharp as it moved the ball around the field, completing 86 percent of its passes.

But while Georgi Hristov’s early second-half goal continued the Rowdies’ perfect start to the season, the challenge Ottawa (0-2-0, 0pts) posed left the side feeling as though it had come through its first major test of the year.

“I think we played very good tonight,” said Hristov. “It was a tough game, a very tough game tonight. They were a really tough team to play tonight. It was a very good test for us as a team. It was hard to break through them, they played tight and gave us very little space. Even though it didn’t look like our best game, for me personally I think this was our best game so far. “

Certainly, for all the Rowdies’ possession, it was Fury FC that had the better chances to open the scoring in the first half after Deshorn Brown’s early chance for the Rowdies came back off the left post. Fury FC’s Sito Seoane forced a good save from Tampa Bay goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald in the 24th minute, and Fitzgerald was sharp again to parry away Lance Rozeboom’s effort three minutes later.

Even after Hristov had given the side the lead two minutes into the second half, his flicked header off a deflected cross by Luke Boden from the left looping past Fury FC goalkeeper Callum Irving, Ottawa continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack. Steevan Dos Santos went close with a flicked header that went just wide of the  left post, but the Rowdies held firm late to earn a third consecutive shutout.

“That is how soccer is,” said Dos Santos. “You have to score when you have the chance and we had a couple of chances in the first half. The keeper for Tampa made some good saves and it’s all about who can score.”

Tampa Bay could have added to its lead, too. Brown was denied by Irving on the doorstep in the 56th minute, unable to react to the rebound, and Joe Cole almost added his second goal of the season seven minutes later only to send a tight-angle finish wide. Hristov’s third goal in as many games proved the difference, though, as the Rowdies took sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference.

“It’s great,” said Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell. “We can build momentum from that, the confidence and the manner in which we won tonight. It was a tough game physically and they put us under a lot of pressure with a lot of long balls into our area. I thought we defended absolutely fantastic again.”

The Rowdies’ early-season lead in the conference will be get two major challenges in the club’s next two games as it heads on the road for the first time. A visit to Louisville City FC – also undefeated and two points back of Tampa Bay after its win in Richmond – next Saturday night, and then to FC Cincinnati and the intense atmosphere of Nippert Stadium the following Wednesday night will be a challenge. 


Photo courtesy Matt May / Tampa Bay Rowdies

It’s one that Hristov and his teammates are looking forward to.

“We can’t wait. I can’t wait,” said Hristov. “It’s a different league, its different cities against different teams. We did our best in the first three games at home and thanks to the crowd for being amazing again tonight.”

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