HOPE SPRINGS LIKE A FLOWER IN FLORIDA: LATE BUDDING LOUISVILLE SNIP A POINT IN ST. PETE

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES 1

LOUISVILLE CITY FC 1

4-13-19

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ABDOU ⚽️

NIALL MAGNUS < LUCKY

SPEEDY

SEAN

< FRANO (C) OSCAR

PACO TAYLOR

BEN

NAPO >, SUNNY >

ALEXIS, PAT, GEOFFREY DEE, ELIJAH WYNDER, TIM

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The margarita glass certainly ended up no less than half full on a lovely April evening in St Petersburg as Louisville City came back from the dead and a goal down at Al Lang Stadium to tie the Rowdies right at the death and nab a very valuable road point.

It was not a classic City performance, and far from their premium lineup, but it was a classic comeback on a revamped Tampa Bay club, coming in at virtual full strength and riding high in the USL Championship standings, having secured eleven points from their opening five matches.

At the expense of Alexis Souahy, Paco Craig returned to center back alongside Taylor Peay, and Sean Totsch came in in front of the back four, moving Speedy Williams forward into a linking role. In the injury absence of George Davis IV and Luke Spencer, Lucky Mkosana received his first start for City and Abdou Mbacke Thiam shifted up into the number 9 position.

City had hardly set the arena alight the previous weekend against The Riverhounds, and the metrics, not to mention the eventuality, would turn out somewhat better in this match as what remains of John Hackworth’s cheery Champions maintained their composure and determination to pry their way back to parity.

Events nearly started off on a high note for City when in the very first minute Lucky charged down a clearance and Abdou’s cross from the right was headed by a defender only as far as Speedy. In a flash the jammin’ Jamaican found Niall McCabe with a view of goal but former City defender Tarek Morad was in position for an early block on the shot.

Meanwhile, Sean Barry from broken play tried a spectacular 15 yard overhead kick in the City box and Sean was close at hand to body it away for a corner.

Morados’ midfield was clicking only sporadically through the first 45, but in the 7th minute Niall chipped a fine ball into the area for Abdou who reached with his left to bypass ‘keeper John McCarthy, however the attempt managed to beat the left upright also.

A minute later Speedy took a rebound from Morad with room to wind up but his first touch could have been better and the defender recovered in time to force a hurried shot with the instep that again flew wide of McCarthy’s left post.

About this point, Rowdies’ – unbeaten and not having been scored on at home – game kicked into gear and as Taylor was drawn wide to cover the tricky Antoine Hoppenot the Frenchman turned him and fed in to Leo Fernandes. The Brazil-born winger thrust for the byline and sent in a hard, low ball looking for Tampa top scorer (4 in 5 games) Sebastian Guenzatti. Ben Lundt in goal cut out the cross, his parry thankfully bouncing back to him off of Paco’s shins.

In the 14th minute they got closer after Lucky, helping his team out deep, conceded a corner which Andrew Tinari sent into the six and right onto the head of the leaping defender Papé Diakité. No one could get close to the 6’4 Senegalese but he could not direct his header downward and it just cleared Ben’s crossbar.

Rowdies were in control and in the 15th Ghanaian Dominic Oduro found Tinari in a pocket just inside the perpindicular and near the penalty area. Last season’s Baby Bull’s captain was treated a little complacently by Speedy who practically invited him to shoot and with the Sean backing off Tinari took full advantage, smashing in an effort that gave Ben zero chance as it ricocheted at the upper V and into his goal net.

1-0 Tampa Bay.

After starting well City looked suddenly shaken and a softly lobbed clearance by Ben put Shaun Francis under pressure which he did not deal with well, giving up the ball to Ivorian Yann Ekra who took over, wheeled away and fired a left footer safely wide. But it was not the ideal response from City right after conceding the goal.

The green and gold hoops came right back and with City’s back four playing the high line Ekra lobbed over the top for Guenzatti. Ben read the play and raced out to deny him but his subpar punch fell to Fernandes. Fortunately for City, the left winger, originally drafted to the MLS by John Hackworth’s Philly Union, got his effort all wrong and sent the ball straight across the park and out over the far touchline.

In the 21st came an incident that threatened to inflame proceedings when Hoppenot, facing the touchline, held off Oscar as the full back repeatedly challenged him from behind. The Frenchman, also drafted by Union, when Hack was Asst. Coach, lost his cool and swung a stiff arm at Oscar who dropped on cue holding his eye but was unable to draw any more punishment than a yellow card for the Tampa forward who was fortunate and ought to have shown better judgment.

City probed forward for a time with little reward but Tinari was buzzing in and out of the game, causing further trouble around the City area which the visiting central defense was just about dealing with, and Fernandes was asking questions from the wing, winning a corner as he beat Oscar to the byline and crossed far post for Guenzatti but Sean was able to get his head to the ball first.

The corner was cleared but landed for Tinari who swung back in for what should have been an easy header for Paco, but he failed to call his partner off and the ball skipped off of Taylor’s head and in behind to Diakité, still waiting deep in the area. The aerially adept center back is evidently not so gifted on the floor and his heavy first touch allowed Ben to jump out and deny him, sliding the ball away to safety.

The Morados were needing respite and Franno clipped a tasty looking ball forward for Abdou but the striker mistimed his run and was caught offside.

Instantly Tinari reapplied the pressure, finding a Jamaican dis-connection by sliding between Sean and Speedy and placing the ball behind Taylor and right on Guenzatti’s foot, and suddenly the striker had a clear view of Ben Lundt. But before he could accelerate away Taylor was able to recover and dispossess him, knowing that a quicker player would have been a quite different proposition.

Taylor and Sean were managing to do just enough to muscle out opposition efforts to break forward, at times resorting to conceding fouls to do so.

Hack’s men at last began to return the rigor and Tarek Morad, solid at the back practically all evening, conceded a right wing corner. In a set play seen before and clearly honed on the training pitch, Oscar struck a low one in to the near post with Paco angling in to meet the ball and turn it inside the foot of the near post.

The positionally savvy stopper who played 21 times in the MLS for Union (signed post Hackworth era) before being released at the end of 2018, however was sharp in getting down to push the ball out and Morad turned it out for another corner.

On follow-up corners Oscar will often switch feet and now he sent a lovely left-foot curler in to Taylor who, fading away, turned it to McCarthy’s right but again the Tampa Bay backstop was equal to the task as he reacted to safely beat out the effort and Abdou was just pipped to the rebound by Fernandes who cleared.

City had their tails up and enjoyed a good spell of several minutes’ possession and territory without finding the necessary quality of set-up play to keep McCarthy working although an Oscar left-footer, wickedly whipped in from the right, skidded past his far post as Abdou was not quite able to sort out his feet in order to turn it in.

In the 42nd, Shaun’s misdirected cross-field ball in the opposition half was easily picked off by Fernandes who carried up the left, inside Oscar, caught wide by the touchline, and into the City area. Sean Totsch locked on and delivered a hefty upper body challenge that toppled the winger to the ground. It was another referee’s choice and, as with a similar play involving Alexis and Taylor on Dos Santos of Riverhounds, mercy was shown and City would avoid going in at halftime with an 0-2 deficit.

Rowdies were not about to go in quietly however. Hoppenot caught Oscar wide again, drifted inside and seeing that he was unchallenged fired in from distance but his strike deflected off his own player and narrowly wide for a goal kick.

Now on right wing Caleb Richards burst behind Paco and headed for the byline but Sean Totsch was in once again to cut him off and shepherd safely over the line.

Ben’s long goal kick eluded Morad, for once caught the wrong side of his opponent (Abdou), and suddenly The Boys In Purple were searching for a late boon themselves as Lucky collected wide left, headed for the corner of the area, and cut back for Abdou who had turned and beelined toward goal. Unfortunately for the rookie his line to the ball was stuttered as he crossed trajectories with the center official and, though his drive into McCarthy was hit with power, he would have been left imagining what might have been if just for a clean approach to the sphere.

The half ended with Paco extending his neck to intercept a long Fernandes free kick for the ever menacing Guenzatti, and despite being a goal down City would have been satisfied, if not relieved, with the scoreline under the circumstances.

The visitors in all-white emerged determined and started the second brightly as Speedy dispossessed Tinari, crossed halfway and connected with Magnus moving into space as he approached the area. But the delicate Dane’s floater forward for Abdou had just enough air for McCarthy to step out to collect.

Continued City pressure yielded a pair of corners but in the 49th Rowdies looked to hit City on the counter as a long Morad header found Guenzatti in a pocket between Sean and the defense. The ergomaniac Uruguayan turned and conveyed the ball on for Hoppenot who had edged in behind Shaun. He froze the defenders by returning it to Guenzatti who, with Shaun not able to close the gap, took an outside pot at goal, but the former NY Cosmos is decidedly more of a danger in close and his tame effort easily cleared Ben’s crossbar.

In the 52nd, play developed in a reciprocal way to when Abdou almost found a breach at the end of the first, Taylor now misjudging a header on a long ball, leaving Oscar exposed as Guenzatti steamed forward up the left, reached the line, and cut it across toward Hoppenot. Paco however had raced back and slid to cut out the delivery, likely denying Hoppenot a silver platter shot at goal.

Suitably warned and unwilling to rack up a third defeat on the trot, the City boys now climbed into the carriage seat and took over the reins.

Magnus, Abdou and Sean combined and Speedy sent Magnus in on goal but a superb play was executed by an alert Richards, the 20-year-old on loan from Norwich City, who charged across the six yard box to get a last gasp foot in and deflect Magnus’ attempt away for a corner.

Immediately following, Magnus returned the favor to Speedy after a kind deflection from the official – occasionally returning back what they taketh – and the just turned 27-year-old fired in a shot, but again Richards was in the way.

The resulting corner drew a repeat of that “specialty play”, Paco again flicking Oscar’s shorty goalward, but even better this time as McCarthy, once more aided by excellent positioning, pulled off the save of the match, brilliantly lunging and scooping the ball off the goal line at the near post, and leaving City starting to wonder how snakebitten they could possibly be.

Minute 62 and a fine Totsch tackle destroyed a Tinari movement and the man known as “Hulk” sprayed it out to Niall on the left. The dynamic Dubliner sent a precision ball through the defense onto the foot of Abdou who half rounded McCarthy and pulled it back on goal from the angle. But the exasperation was extended as the ex UConn man could only hit the base of the right upright and still the green and gold forcefield held.

Rowdies barely had time to draw a breath when Tinari missed at midfield and Taylor sent the loose ball forward for Lucky. Richards, who had been heroic just earlier, failed on both bites at the cherry and the zippy Zimbabwean was suddenly inside the area with only an advancing McCarthy to beat. Instead of dragging to his right and leaving him high and dry, Lucky fancied an all too obvious push-in with his left and the grateful goalkeeper anticipated, stifling the chance with an outstretched leg.

The play underlined number 77’s fortunes this season and may well have consigned him straight back to a further term of observation from the dugout in coming weeks.

And the St. Pete Celt copyists almost made City pay as play swung back to their end. Hoppenot wide left capitalized on Taylor’s missed challenge, scampered for the line and looped the ball over for Tinari. The stocky skill merchant turned it back inside for substitute David Najem who switched back across the area for Hoppenot to launch himself headfirst, but he was unable to get enough on the ball to turn it back past Ben.

For all their ascendency, and despite not allowing an attempt on goal in the second stanza and only a couple in the entire game, City could already have found themselves facing a comprehensive result.

Yet unharmed and undaunted The Morados collected themselves and a tidy combination involving the two Sean/Shaun/s supplied Magnus who from 30 yards lashed a left-footer at goal, Morad doing the deflecting honors on this occasion.

Hack’s handymen were playing their best football of the match and from the cleared corner Magnus intercepted and dropped to Sean who sent a raker over to Oscar. El Mago’s chipped delivery toward Abdou was ably collected by McCarthy who was then unmercifully undercut by Lucky for his effort.

At 68 minutes, Oscar got the wrong side of Fernandes in midfield and in taking him out with a heel clip earned his first caution of the season.

Back in attack, more positive combination play saw Niall take a Paco pass and send over a beauty of a ball to Lucky at the far post, but he was unfortunate to have been deemed to have gone over the top of Richards who in actual fact was backing in. Perhaps it was a developing reputation, perhaps awkward justice after he had been spared the yellow for his play on McCarthy a little earlier.

The valiant visitors continued to possess and press, inducing the spirited Guenzatti to take a yellow card in his aggravation at Speedy who instead of taking a handful of shirt had practically grabbed a pound of flesh off the striker’s back.

Niall, from a more central area, again swung in for Lucky but the header was tame enough not to trouble McCarthy.

Ekra collected yellow as he prevented Magnus breaking again up the middle and Oscar swung in the free kick right to Abdou whose testing header found McCarthy once again perfectly positioned and reacting rapidly to knock it clear.

With under 15 minutes remaining it was appearing this was not supposed to be City’s night.

In the midst of a brief turn of Tampa Bay pressure, young Panamanian Juan Tejada, on for Hoppenot, shook a weary Sean and flicked a pass from Guenzatti on to Tinari. The ball was dropped for Ekra and his thunderbolt was oh-so close, just shaving the outside of Ben’s right-hand post.

In the 84th, Rowdies forced a corner taken by Fernandes and Morad eased away from Taylor only to head over the bar from a handy central area.

Oduro picked up a caution after reacting to a Speedy foul, number 80 succeeding in drawing plenty of chippiness from the emerald hooped midfielders.

Napo Matsoso earned a brief debut, replacing Sean Francis in an effort to generate any extra thrust up the left wing, and he nearly landed right into hot water as Oduro intercepted Oscar’s pass and headed down for Fernandes who dropped it precisely in the hole between Paco and the Lesotho rookie. Guenzatti, whose predatory instincts, if not his execution, had been a feature for the Rowdies all evening, could not coordinate as he would have liked and he volleyed his great opportunity wide of the frame.

Now, as late as the 88th minute, it was Tampa Bay’s turn to pay dearly for missed chances as Oscar played the ball inside to Speedy who slid it on to Magnus, who has been City’s top performing midfielder since his reinstatement into the lineup vs. Hartford.

The smooth Scandinavian, who is steadily building a body of achievement in his fourth season with the club, embarked on an odyssey as he rolled between Oduru and Ekra and set his sights on the Rowdies penalty area where he seemed to have ensnared himself in a swamp surrounded by five gnashing gator-like defenders. Yet in a whirling, swirling hunt for Houdiniism he somehow held on to the soccer ball and just as he appeared to be losing his grip it bobbled off Diakité’s foot, ironically to where countryman Abdou Thiam was poised to pounce.

And pounce Los Morados’ freshly minted number 14 did as he banged the ball barely wide of McCarthy and into the back of the Rowdies’ net, the first goal conceded in 358 minutes of hometown football for Neil Collins’ side this season.

The black clad ‘keeper was left punching the turf as the ecstasy of the boys in white jerseys showed in stark contrast to the long faces of those in green and white as “Ralph’s Mob” and the denizens of Al Lang realized their perfect home shutout record had just been relinquished.

There was time left for one final 30 yard Speedy speculater and it hardly bothered anybody on the Sunshine State sojourn when it sailed wide.

City had come, they had seen, and they had contained, and with four key injuries on top of four key defections from 2018, John Hackworth’s makeshift side had made mighty good in gator country.

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@LouCityKiwi’s PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF 10:

BEN LUNDT: 6

After a superb quartet of games, his least steady display in the Louisville net. Problems with handling and particularly distribution of the ball. Not always on the same page as his defense, could probably do with projecting himself more for the sake of better communication. Once again, no chance with the goal against. Nevertheless, Hack’s decision on the number one position for next weekend will be worth watching for.

SHAUN FRANCIS: 5

Veteran status earned him the armband on the night but not always leading by example owing to uneven play on the ball, though mostly positionally discreet.

TAYLOR PEAY: 6 1/2

Dangerous when up high for dead ball situations and generally managing on defense while still showing some rust in only his 2nd start of the season, and 1st as a CB partner to …

PACO CRAIG:_7 1/2

Important defensive coverage and close on a couple of occasions at the other end in a bright return after missing the starting 11 vs Pittsburgh.

OSCAR JIMENEZ: 5

Experienced support player mostly still short of his best. Grappling with defensive duties while open play (and some dead ball) deliveries can be much better, however did endanger Rowdies several times with devious deliveries on corners.

SPEEDY WILLIAMS: 6 1/2

Struggling to link defense with attack early on and, as with last weekend, finishing could be better. Opted not to close down Tinari on Rowdies’ goal, to his and the team’s’ great cost. More influential in the 2nd half when he and the team finally settled down.

NIALL MCCABE: _6 1/2

Chipped in usefully at times at left midfield though quiet for long periods. Produced several incisive key pass, more of which will be needed in Brian Ownby’s ongoing absence.

MAGNUS RASMUSSEN: 7 1/2

Little going on in the 1st half but, along with partner Speedy, showed up a good deal more in the 2nd, stepping up to breathe life into a not always lively City offense. Persistence and enterprise caused the defensive error that led to the game tying goal.

LUCKY MKOSANA: 4 1/2

Toiled in a wide attacking midfield channel rather than his familiar CF one and backtracked well, though yet again adding little meaningful offensively. Style points nonetheless for season long unbeaten top dynamic ‘do and for not batting an eyelid upon the late challenge offered with the introduction of Juan Tejada.

ABDOU MBACKE THIAM: 6 1/2

Still showing much promise and certainly a preference for the central striking role rather than the wider assignments, though not enjoying much apparent chemistry with Lucky as a partner.

Unfortunate in front of goal on a couple of occasions, then delightedly converted his crucial chance after lacking for service and efficacy for much of the night.

NAPO MATSOSO: N/A

Late sub. No real time to show his stuff.

SUNNY JANE: N/A

Surprisingly late, late sub in a nonetheless welcome return from a monthlong injury.

“LOS MORADOS NO. 1 ⭐️ OF THE GAME”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ SEAN TOTSCH ⭐️⭐️⭐️: 8

Most capable outing holding Il Generale(PDP)’s beer in the holding midfield role, rendering the regular captain’s return a tad less pressing. Might have done better to be less passive on Tinari’s goal but otherwise diligent in support of the defense, aerially and on the deck, and effective in transition play as well as providing an extra target to concern the opposition in dead ball situations. Doubtless his best work of the season to date in this match.

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