by JAKE NUTTING

The Tampa Bay Rowdies closed out the second annual Suncoast Invitational in fashion, recording a pair of first half goals to secure a victory over last year’s Major League Soccer Eastern Conference runners-up, the Montreal Impact.

Tampa Bay pressed their guests early on in the match. Darwin Jones centered a low cross to the center of the field in the 10th minute and Joe Cole expertly guided the service into space with his first touch to launch the attack. Cole accelerated into the box with the ball, but scuffed his left-footed effort yards wide of the far post.

The Rowdies remained organized throughout the opening half, preventing Montreal from getting in behind the back line or many creating chances. The visitors looked to spring forward down the right hand side multiple times only to be caught by the offside trap.

Cole received a second chance on net inside the penalty area in the 34th minute. Following a foul in Tampa Bay’s favor at the top of the box, training guest Deshorn Brown caught the Impact defense napping and quickly restarted play with a pass for Cole to latch onto. Cole again fired a shot that looked to be destined to go wide, but his attempt got an assist with a deflection off a sliding Laurent Ciman that redirected the ball into the back of the net to give the Rowdies their first tally of the preseason.

Another goal for the home team came only six minutes later through an impressive buildup down the left side. Jones fed a ball down the left edge of the box for Luke Boden, who whipped in a low cross for a streaking Leo Fernandes. Goalkeeper Evan Bush successfully broke up the cross with a diving punch, but his effort sent the ball to the feet of Cole. The English veteran blasted a swift shot on net, but was denied by a sensational one-handed recovery save by Bush. Unfortunately for Bush, the rebound fell to another Rowdies attacker, this time Brown, who made no mistake with a deft volley to cap off the frenetic sequence.

Here is the Rowdies' second goal of the night, courtesy of Deshorn Brown. At the half, the Rowdies lead @impactmontreal 2-0. pic.twitter.com/sP6yF00ZOJ — Tampa Bay Rowdies (@TampaBayRowdies) February 26, 2017

Montreal gained composure after the halftime break and finally began to challenge the Rowdies with sustained pressure, though they could not find a way to break through in the first 15 minutes.

A long break in play came after a hard collision shortly after the hour mark that ended with keeper Matt Pickens shaken on the ground. Pickens walked off on his own feet ater receiving a concussion test and was replaced by trialist Akira Fitzgerald. The former RailHawks’ netminder was immediatley tested as Damion Lowe was whistled for a takedown as a Montreal attacker streaked into the box. Ignacio Piatti made the ensuing penalty look easy, pushing the ball to the right post as Fitzgerald dove the opposite direction.

Cole’s night ended in the 73rd minute when he made way for forward Georgi Hristov. The appearance off the bench was the first action the Bulgarian has seen this preseason as he has been slowly working his way back from an injury. Hritsov failed to produce much in the final stages apart from drawing a few fouls from the increasingly frustrated Montreal defense.

With their first goals and victory of the preseason wrapped up, the Rowdies now move on to next weekend’s annual preseason exhibition against the University of Tampa at Pepin Stadium. Kick off time for the match has not yet been announced.

IMAGE, TAMPA BAY ROWDIES/MATT MAY