ST. PETERSBURG — With a shortened USL Championship season and a revamped divisional alignment, the Rowdies have gotten overly familiar with the likes of Atlanta, Charleston and Miami.
Seven games and more than a month later, the Rowdies are facing a different team Sunday. Philadelphia Union II visits Al Lang Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN+).
“We’ve gotten into that rhythm of playing the same teams and it’s been unusual. And now it feels unusual that we’re playing someone different,” coach Neill Collins said.
The Union II have the Rowdies topped when it comes to crazy schedules — and circumstances. Philadelphia returned to action for the first time in exactly four weeks Wednesday, dropping a 2-1 home result to Atlanta United 2.
After a positive COVID-19 test within the organization, Union II’s Aug. 9 game and the next two both were postponed. The team’s final month of the season now contains nine matches.
The Rowdies are getting Philadelphia on what would normally be considered short rest, but is actually as long of a break as the side will get the rest of the way. Sunday’s game kicks off an unheard of span of three matches in six days.
Tampa Bay isn’t in a position to show sympathy, trying to fend off the Charleston Battery for first place in Group H. Though the Rowdies lead the Eastern Conference in point total entering the weekend (7-1-3, 24 points), Charleston sat at 20 with a match against Miami on Saturday.
“Charleston are gonna push us all the way,” Collins said. “The proof will be in what’s on the field, and what the results are. We’re really going into this period (of the season) with a lot of guys fit, lot of guys in good form. Competition on the squad’s as high as it’s ever been. It’s an exciting month to look forward to.”
Tampa Bay has five matches left in the regular season, including an Oct. 3 finale against Charleston. Although playoff qualification is not in doubt — it officially could be secured this weekend — winning the group is of the utmost importance.
In the 2020 playoff format there’s a not-too-outlandish scenario where the Group H runnerup could have the second-best record in the entire Eastern Conference, yet have to travel the first two rounds of the playoffs. In past years (no groups, just two conference tables), those first two matches would be guaranteed to be at home.
It’s another reason for Collins to keep the team from slipping. Though the defensive trio of Forrest Lasso, Aaron Guillen and Jordan Scarlett has played nearly every minute (Lasso just missing a half) the team last week signed 25-year-old Englishman Alexander Davey.
“Fantastic signing for the club. He fits right in with the squad. You look at the squad right now, our defensive record’s been excellent, but that’s when you strengthen. As opposed to waiting. That was a lesson from last year,” Collins said, referring to the 2019 fast start that fizzled to a first-round road playoff defeat.
Scarlett scored his first goal of the season to start off a 3-0 Rowdies victory over Miami on Wednesday, off a wonderful corner kick delivery from Lewis Hilton. Tampa Bay already has six headed goals, and Hilton has provided three assists, all off set pieces.
“I’ve always wanted to take the set pieces. I’m kind of a player that always wants to be involved. And I think the other night showed how important (those) can be,” Hilton said. Tampa Bay’s three goals came off a corner, free kick and a penalty.
Hilton, also from England, joined the Rowdies in the offseason after splitting his first four USL seasons between Charlotte and Saint Louis. “The squad that we’ve got is just a step up from anything I’ve been at before,” he said.
Friday he agreed with Collins that it’ll be nice to play someone new: “To play a team that we’ve not played this season, it’s a fine opportunity and makes it a little more of a fresher challenge as well.”
Who has the fresher legs is yet to be seen, but the visitors certainly have younger ones. Union II is the affiliate for Philadelphia’s MLS side and gets to play its home matches in the same 18,500-seat Subaru Stadium.
In its return to action Wednesday, Sean Bettenhausen and Jack Jasinski — ages 17 and 16 — became the latest members of the franchise’s Academy to get a USL start. Paxten Aaronson, who just turned 17 last week and is another Union Academy player, scored his first goal.
On Aug. 5 the club parted ways with head coach Sven Gartung, then hours later grabbed its first win of the season, 3-2 against Red Bulls II. Interim leader Marlon LeBlanc is also the Academy coach. Union II have been outscored 22-7 this season.
“We’re not handicapping ourselves, or judging ourselves against other people. We’re looking at winning on Sunday,” Collins said. “It will be great if we (clinch) the playoffs, but, why set the standards as ‘Oh we’re in the playoffs, now we can relax.’ We don’t want to set restrictions on this group of lads.”
The Link LonkSeptember 05, 2020 at 08:32AM
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2020/09/05/finally-a-fresh-opponent-for-the-rowdies-this-weekend/
Finally a fresh opponent for the Rowdies this weekend - Tampa Bay Times
https://news.google.com/search?q=fresh&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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