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Tampa Bay, Atlanta End Deadlocked

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/02/18, 9:44PM EDT

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Both sides reduced to 10 men in scoreless draw before 5,953


Photo courtesy Nigel G. Worrell / Tampa Bay Rowdies

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies and ATL UTD 2 played to a 0-0 draw before a crowd of 5,953 fans on Saturday night at Al Lang Field as both sides ended the game with 10 men. The teams exchanged chances early as Laurent Kissidou had a low shot to the right corner save for Atlanta, and Tampa Bay’s Jochen Graf had a back-post finish from a corner kick blocked off the line by Jack Metcalf. Rowdies goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald was called into action again on a close-range finish by Andrew Kendall-Moullin after A.J. Cochran’s knockdown of a free kick near the left post. Atlanta was reduced to 10 men five minutes before halftime as Will Crain received his second yellow card for bringing down Joe Cole, but four minutes later the Rowdies’ Marcel Schäfer was also sent off to leave the game 10-on-10. The sides exchanged half-chances in the second half as neither appeared able to take advantage of the extra space, but with 14 minutes to go Tampa Bay’s Martin Vingaard forced a save by Atlanta’s Paul Christensen on a long-range shot. The hosts continued to press for a winner, and Leo Fernandes was also denied in the 82nd minute, but when Max Lachowecki’s stoppage-time chance flew just high of the crossbar the game ended scoreless.

Scoring:
None

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. The Rowdies remained undefeated at Al Lang Stadium this season but were unable to find a way through to a second consecutive victory on a frustrating night for the hosts against a battling Atlanta side. Tampa Bay was held scoreless at home for the first time since the start of the 2017 season as while the side produced five shots on goal, none was good enough to get past Atlanta goalkeeper Paul Christensen as the hosts missed out on a chance to bolster their playoff positioning.

  • 2. Atlanta is still looking for its first road win of the season, but the visitors looked dangerous throughout the first half as it forced a pair of good saves from Rowdies goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald and held the majority of possession throughout the game against a side known for building well on its home turf. Atlanta is still a long way from the playoff positions in the Eastern Conference but should take confidence from a good road display on Saturday night.

  • 3. The Rowdies are set to face a key home contest next Saturday night as fellow playoff contender Nashville SC visits Al Lang Stadium, but it will likely do so without its two most experienced players after German midfielder Marcel Schafer was sent off late in the first half and former England international Joe Cole received his fifth yellow card of the season late in the second half. While that could put the side in a bind, it also offers a big opportunity for some of the club’s players to step up and impress new Head Coach Neill Collins in a key game for the club.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

A.J. Cochran, ATL UTD 2 – Cochran put in a strong defensive display with three tackles and six clearances, while also winning 18 of 23 duels overall to help keep the Rowdies off the board.

Upcoming Games:

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Nashville SC – June 9, 7:30 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium

ATL UTD 2 at Indy Eleven – June 9, 7 p.m. ET, Lucas Oil Stadium

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