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Rowdies’ Newcomers Shine in Lopsided Preseason Victory

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 04/18/21, 9:09AM EDT

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Quartet of offseason arrivals find net in 5-0 win against Naples United

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Four new offseason arrivals found the net as the Tampa Bay Rowdies got back on a winning track with a 5-0 victory against Naples United FC at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night. Dayonn Harris, Laurence Wyke, Steevan Dos Santos and Jordan Adebayo-Smith all found the net as the Rowdies pulled away in the second half.

Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins went heavy on new players in the starting lineup and handed a preseason debut to goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena. The Cuban dealt well with the limited shots that came his way before being subbed out at halftime.

After pressing and earning a handful of corner kicks in the opening half hour, Harris found the breakthrough for the hosts with his second goal of the preseason. Sebastian Dalgaard initiated the sequence with an accurate cross from the left wing that found captain Sebastian Guenzatti, who laid the ball off for Harris as he charged forward into the box. The winger then powered the ball past Naples’ goalkeeper.

Harris’ goal remained the only score into the second half, but five minutes after the break the Rowdies finally took advantage of a corner kick. Lewis Hilton’s delivery found the head of Max Lachowecki, whose header hit the crossbar. Wyke was the in the area to clean up the rebound opportunity, though, to put home his second goal of the preseason.

Adebayo-Smith then played a part in the next two Rowdies’ goals after coming on just past the hour-mark. Within seconds, Adebayo-Smith earned the Rowdies a penalty kick which was then converted by Dos Santos. Adebayo-Smith added a spectacular goal of his own with 16 minutes to go as he drove down the right wing past a defender and flicked the ball just over the goalkeeper as he rushed off his line. Once it was past the keeper Adebayo-Smith tucked home into the open net.

Another substitute recorded the fifth goal of the night as Leo Fernandes – making his preseason debut – fed the ball to Zach Steinberger, who was left with yards of space to bury the ball into the net to close out the victory.

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