by JAKE NUTTING

The 1-0 scoreline might not reflect it, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies dominated in their United Soccer League debut against Orlando City B. Fittingly, it was a penalty from the Rowdies all-time leading scorer in the modern era Georgi Hristov that sealed the win in the first ever league meeting between the two rivals.

“I’m happy to have scored the goal on an important night for the Rowdies,” Hristov said. “We played really well tonight and should’ve won by more, so I’m proud of the way all my teammates played. There’s things we can do better, but this is a good start.”

7,710 packed into Al Lang Stadium to witness the match, creating an atmosphere that led to some frantic play for both teams in the opening minutes.

The Rowdies, though, were the ones who eventeually settled in and took hold of the match. Following a probing long-range shot from Orlando’s Richie Laryea that was collected easily by keeper Akira Fitzgerald — filling in for the injured Matt Pickens — the visitors failed to record another shot on goal in the match.

Rowdies newcomer Marcel Schäfer angled to win the hearts and minds of the crowd early on with scoring chance in the 24th minute with the first chance of the match. Midfielder Leo Fernandes fed a ball into space down the left side of the box for the Bundesliga veteran, who got off a shot to the far post with his first touch, but OCB keeper Earl Edwards Jr. denied him with an outstanding save. Fernandes attempted to jump on the rebound only to see it cleared away at the last moment.

Joe Cole looked to put the Rowdies up at the half-hour mark with a set-piece strike. The English veteran missed out on grabbing his first goal of the year when his whizzing free kick from just outside the box didn’t quite curl left enough in time.

Hristov had two achingly similar chances within five minutes of each other at the end of the first 45 minutes that were both begging to be put away. On the first, the Bulgarian received a pass from Cole in the center of the box, attempted to push the ball right of the charging Edwards but instead fired it right into his arms on the ground.

The second was the result of a run from Michael Nanchoff, who chipped an awkward pass to Hristov in the center of the box again. Once again, the forward pushed the ball to his right, only this time he got under the bouncing ball and sent the it over the outfield wall.

Hristov finally gave the Rowdies the lead in the 57th minute following an incredible individual effort from Fernandes to draw a penalty. Fernadnes flicked a ball between a crowd of OCB defenders and raced into the box where he was taken out by a sliding challenge from Edwards. The third time was the charm for Hristov, who buried the penalty straight down the middle as Edwards dove to his right.

“Honestly, I was a bit nervous,” Hristov said of the penalty. “I had one or two very good chances before that I could’ve scored. Maybe I should’ve score two goals, at least. But at least we won. This is what we were talking about before the game. We had to keep believing in each other. My teammates kept telling me to keep my head up, so in end in the end everything worked out and we got our first win of the season.”

Cole came close to doubling the lead in the 78th minute with a clever chip from distance. The ball was on its way to dipping down under the crossbar, but Edwards recovered in time to make another fantastic save.

“It was a big game with a big atmosphere and my players came good tonight,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “I’m delighted for Georgi because he worked his absolute socks off and if anyone deserved a goal tonight, it’s him.”

The Rowdies will stick around St. Petersburg next weekend for a matchup with Toronto FC II.

IMAGE, CHARLIE KAIJO/TAMPA BAY TIMES