Rowdies overcome Phoenix in 2020 USL Championship Final “replay”
ST. PETERSBURG — It may not have been for silverware but the battle of the 2020 USL Championship conference champions saw the Tampa Bay Rowdies claim a 2–1 win over Phoenix Rising FC at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night.
Steevan Dos Santos starred again managing a goal and an assist in the match as the Rowdies had enough about them to beat the defending Western Conference champions.
It took only four minutes for the Rowdies to open the scoring when a powerful run from Dos Santos allowed him to swing the ball into the box. That saw Aodhan Quinn attempt to clear the ball out of the box but he sent it past his own keeper for the opener.
Getting a strong early start was something that Tampa Bay Head Coach Neill Collins had emphasized in training this week. Phoenix had been starting matches well even if he thought that the team could have had a bigger league at halftime.
He is right to say that, it could have been 2–0 seven minutes later with Dos Santos at it again. Zach Steinberger found Dos Santos in the box but he launched his shot well over the bar.
Late in the half Quinn could have scratched out his own goal, hitting a powerful shot to the bottom corner of the net. That effort was denied by a full-stretch save from Evan Louro, keeping it 1–0 at halftime.
An hour in Tampa Bay had two as Leo Fernandes worked hard to create the chance and shot at goal only for his effort to be saved by Ben Lundt for a corner. On the corner, Forrest Lasso’s powerful header was saved allowing Dos Santos to score on the rebound.
Just seven minutes later Phoenix pulled a goal back. Santi Moar had enough space to look up and take a powerful shot which Louro couldn’t stop. After the goal Phoenix wanted to play quickly, leading to a scuffle which saw Louro and Phoenix’s Rufat Dadashov carded.
With a way back in the match Phoenix pushed hard for an equalizer in the closing moments but the hosts held out to claim the win. With the match being essentially a “replay” of what was supposed to be the 2020 USL Championship Final before its cancellation the PA had one last trick, belting out We are the Champions as a frustrated Phoenix side left the field.
This story originally featured with video content at Florida Soccer Report.
