ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Charleston Battery conclude their three-game regular season series at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night with the Battery looking to complete a sweep to bolster their position at the top of the Eastern Conference. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2uQxZmB | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2nv4q5k | Broadcast: ThisTV (TBR), MyTV (CHS)
Tampa Bay Rowdies news and notes
Current record: 7-5-7, 28pts
The Rowdies played to a 1-1 draw last Thursday night against Orlando City B as a second-half goal by Martin Paterson was cancelled out by a stoppage-time penalty kick.
Tampa Bay remains in fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, but has played more games than any other side in the top eight of the conference.
Paterson’s goal was his second in as many games, and moved the former Northern Ireland international to four goals for the season.
The Rowdies announced on Thursday the addition of former Philadelphia Union midfielder Walter Restrepo for the remainder of the season.
Charleston Battery news and notes
Current record: 10-3-5, 35pts
The Battery fell for only the third time this season last Saturday night as they were edged out 1-0 by Saint Louis FC at Toyota Stadium – Saint Louis.
The game marked the first time the Battery had been held without a goal this season as Saint Louis goalkeeper Adam Grinwis posted a four-save shutout.
Charleston remains the leading scorer in the USL Eastern Conference with 37 goals, four more than the second-place Charlotte Independence.
Battery forward Romario Williams will again be unavailable, but on Thursday night scored the winning goal for Jamaica in its 2-1 victory against Canada in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Rowdies defender Damion Lowe also went the full 90 minutes in the victory.
Series Notes
Squads
Tampa Bay – GK: Nico Campbell, Matt Pickens, Akira Fitzgerald; D: Darnell King, Neill Collins, Luke Boden, Zac Portillos, Tam Mkandawire, Damion Lowe, Kyle Porter; M: Marcel Schäfer, Darwin Jones, Walter Restrepo, Alex Morrell, Leo Fernandes, Justin Chavez, Keith Savage, Michael Nanchoff, Joe Cole, Martin Vingaard; F: Georgi Hristov, Martin Paterson
Charleston – GK: Alex Tambakis, Odisnel Cooper, Joe Kuzminski; D: Forrest Lasso, Taylor Mueller, Skylar Thomas, O’Brian Woodbine, Quinton Griffith, Mikey Ambrose, Miles Robinson; M: Jarad van Schaik, Neveal Hackshaw, Ataulla Guerra, Lagos Kunga, Chris Goslin, Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang, Tah Brian Anunga, Kotaro Higashi, Ryan Arambula; F: Romario Williams, Heviel Cordoves, Ricky Garbanzo, Nico Rittmeyer, Jeffrey Otoo, Robbie Robinson
Discipline
Tampa Bay – Accumulation warning: Damion Lowe, Keith Savage
Charleston – Accumulation warning: Tah Anunga, Romario Williams
Officials
REF: DANIEL GUTIERREZ
AR1: Natalie Simon
AR2: Corie Cox
4TH: Elvis Osmanovic
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Tampa Bay Rowdies – @TampaBayRowdies
Charleston Battery – @Chas_Battery
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