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Schäfer Sends Rowdies Past Cincinnati

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/21/17, 10:59PM EDT

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Former German international’s brace fuels Tampa Bay win before 6,104


Photo courtesy Matt May / Tampa Bay Rowdies

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Marcel Schäfer scored a pair of goals to lead the No. 3-seed Tampa Bay Rowdies to a 3-0 victory against the No. 6-seed FC Cincinnati in front of 6,104 fans at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs on Saturday night. Tampa Bay took the lead in just the eighth minute as a searching ball into the left channel was controlled by Georgi Hristov, and the Bulgarian found a cutting Marcel Schafer as he moved into the left side of the penalty area to shoot low into the right corner. FCC almost answered immediately, only for Jimmy McLaughlin to slide his finish wide of the right post, while Andrew Wiedeman also had a good long-range drive go wide of the right post in the 22nd minute. Three minutes later, however, and Schäfer struck again. A challenge 25 yards out sent the ball to the feet of the former German international, and his low strike from the left channel picked out the right corner. Schäfer almost added a third early in the second half, his low shot to the right corner turned aside by FCC goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, but in the 67th minute it was Hristov’s turn to strike as his curling shot from 25 yards hit the underside of the crossbar and went just over the line to make it three for the hosts. Cincinnati almost pulled a goal back with 12 minutes to go as a corner kick from the came to Kadeem Dacres, but Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens recovered in time to tip his header over the crossbar, and from there the Rowdies closed out a comfortable first USL Cup Playoffs victory.

Scoring:
8’ – TBR – Marcel Schäfer (Georgi Hristov)
25’ – TBR – Marcel Schäfer
67’ – TBR – Georgi Hristov (Martin Vingaard)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. The Rowdies maintain their upper hand on FC Cincinnati in a clash where the quality of chances and finishing made a big difference between the sides. Tampa Bay has now defeated Cincinnati in all three of their meetings at Al Lang Stadium in the short history between the clubs as the hosts looked confident in front of a vocal home crowd, and built momentum toward the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the process.

  • 2. After the season he’s had against them, FC Cincinnati players and fans might start seeing Marcel Schäfer in place of the boogeyman when they have nightmares this offseason. On Saturday night the former German international continued his outstanding run of late-season form with another pair of goals, and a dominant display in the center of midfield that powered Tampa Bay to victory. Schäfer’s second goal in particular showed off his specialty, with a tremendous low finish to the right corner that left FCC goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt little chance.

  • 3. Cincinnati’s season came to an end with a thud as the side wasn’t able to produce enough chances to make up the early deficit it fell into on the road. After the magic of the club’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run, more was expected as the calendar turned to October, but while FCC earned another trip to the postseason, it is still looking for a first playoff victory as it enters an offseason that currently contains more questions than answers.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Marcel Schäfer, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Schäfer was again exceptional, and produced two excellent goals to give the Rowdies a lead they never looked in danger of relinquishing.

Upcoming Games:
Eastern Conference Semifinals – Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. New York Red Bulls II, Saturday, October 28, 7:30 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium
FC Cincinnati – End of Season

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