ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Of all the minutes of action seen by Tampa Bay Rowdies players on Sunday against VfL Wolfsburg in the 2017 Florida Cup, those played by fullback Zac Portillos might have been the most significant.

After seeing a second consecutive season brought to a premature conclusion by injury after playing just five times for the Rowdies in 2016, the Colorado native went 70 minutes in the side’s first preseason outing.

“It was good,” Portillos said. “A little nervous at first, obviously, playing Wolfsburg, always a good side, and I hadn’t played in about eight months, I was nervous but I felt good, it went great.”

Portillos grew into the game, in particular performing well after the halftime break. His run toward the penalty area nine minutes into the second half drew a foul that resulted in a good free kick by Michael Nanchoff that was saved, and then released Alex Morrell with a pass over the top that created another good scoring opportunity.