ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies extended their winning streak to four games to start the season as Sebastian Guenzatti’s fourth goal of the season lifted the hosts to a 2-1 victory against Miami FC at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night.

The game opened evenly between the two rivals, but the Rowdies hit the front in the 12th minute as a corner kick from the left by Lewis Hilton to the near post picked out Steevan Dos Santos for a flicked header into the right corner of the net, giving the Cape Verde forward his third consecutive game with a goal. Dos Santos had another chance six minutes later as the hosts crowded out Miami to win possession in the attacking end, but Miami goalkeeper Connor Sparrow was alert to the shot from 20 yards.

Miami almost hit back in the 25th minute as Billy Forbes dispossessed Hilton in his own half allowing Ariel Martinez to pick up possession and move centrally to set up Lamar Walker for a shot, but it curled high of the crossbar. Martinez then went close himself three minutes later with a low shot to the right corner, but Rowdies goalkeeper Evan Louro parried it away to safety.

The visitors leveled eight minutes before halftime, however, as Forbes fired a shot from 15 yards that took a wicked deflection off Rowdies defender Aaron Guillen that looped into the net leaving Louro helpless. The Rowdies almost hit back immediately as Leo Fernandes found space in the left side of the penalty area only to have his shot denied by Sparrow, but the sides went to the break level.

Tampa Bay almost regained the lead early in the second half as Hilton had a first-time finish blocked by Callum Chapman-Page inside the six-yard area before Dos Santos skied a chance on the rebound. Another chance arrived for the hosts just before the hour-mark as a corner kick by Hilton was kept alive in the penalty area for a shot by Zach Steinberger that Sparrow saved.

Miami then threatened to take the lead with 21 minutes to go as Speedy Williams fired a shot from 20 yards toward the bottom-right corner that was kept out by Louro, but nine minutes later the visitors were whistled for a handball on Paco Craig to give the Rowdies a chance from the penalty spot. Guenzatti stepped up to the spot and shot low to the right corner to restore Tampa Bay’s lead.

The Rowdies almost added to their lead late as Jordan Adebayo-Smith sent a finish just high after the ball fell loose in the Miami penalty area with three minutes to go, but despite some late pressure from the visitors the hosts were able to secure all three points and wrap up a successful homestand.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Lewis Hilton, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Hilton recorded one assist and four key passes in attack, and also completed 43 of 51 passes overall while making seven recoveries in midfield.

Scoring Summary
TBR – Steevan Dos Santos (Lewis Hilton) 12’
MIA – Billy Forbes 37’
TBR – Sebastian Guenzatti (Penalty Kick) 79’

Full Box Score