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Matchday Report: Rowdies’ Shutout Streak Ends, Winning Run Continues in Hartford

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/25/21, 9:08PM EDT

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Guenzatti notches pair of goals in third consecutive game as visitors take a 2-1 win against Athetic

HARTFORD, Conn. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ shutout streak came to an end deep in second-half stoppage time at 891 minutes, but the visitors had already done enough thanks to another two-goal outing by Sebastian Guenzatti to take a 2-1 victory against Hartford Athletic at Dillon Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rowdies almost struck within the opening 30 seconds as Yann Ekra shot from 25 yards toward the top-left corner of the net, but the effort was well turned away by Hartford goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell. The Athletic settled well as well, and soon after Preston Tabort Etaka had a pair of chances, the first he sent over the crossbar and a second that forced a low save by Tampa Bay’s Evan Louro from 20 yards.

Sebastian Guenzatti continued his scoring streak for the visitors to four games in the 12th minute, however, as Leo Fernandes played a good give-and-go to get into space on the left side and delivered a low cross that the Rowdies’ captain tucked home from close range for his 15th goal of the season. Guenzatti was then given a chance to double his side’s lead as Steevan Dos Santos was brought down in the penalty area, but his shot was denied by Caldwell, who saved with his legs as he dove to the left corner for his league-lead fifth penalty kick stop of the season.

There was no denying Guenzatti his third consecutive two-goal outing in first-half stoppage time, though, as he again connected with Fernandes, who headed on a long free kick upfield by Louro in first-half stoppage time that Guenzatti reacted to first as he lifted a finish from the left side of the penalty area over Caldwell as he came off his line and into the right corner of the net.

Hartford tried to find an answer early in the second half as Danny Barrera delivered a cross from the left byline that found Darwin Lom at the back post for a header that went wide of the upright. The Athletic went even closer in the 56th minute as Younes Boudadi took possession after a free kick was half-cleared by the Rowdies and delivered a low cross from the right that Thomas Janjigian shot off the crossbar and away to safety. The woodwork came to Tampa Bay’s aide again a minute later as Barrera’s corner from the right found Nicolas Cardona at the near post for a header that went off the left upright and away to safety.

The Rowdies relieved the pressure soon after and Guenzatti almost notched his hat trick with a turning shot from 25 yards that was tipped over the crossbar by Caldwell just before the hour-mark, but the hosts continued to have more of the play as they chased the game as Rowdies defender Aaron Guillen blocked a cross by Hartford’s Arthur Rogers at the top of the six-yard area before the visitors smuggled the ball to safety.

The Athletic threatened again with a minute to go as Barrera’s raking pass from the right side of the halfway line found Derek Dodson in the left side of the penalty area for a shot that Louro got a piece of to send it into the side-netting. In stoppage time the Rowdies’ shutout streak finally came to an end at 891 minutes as Hartford found the net as Dodson regained possession after having a chance denied and quickly found Barrera for a shot to the top-left corner from eight yards, but time ran out on the hosts as Tampa Bay closed out the victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Fernandes assisted on both of the Rowdies’ goals and had four key passes overall with two shots as defensively he won 14 of 19 duels and 9 of 11 aerial duels while making three interceptions.

Scoring Summary
TBR
– Sebastian Guenzatti (Leo Fernandes) 12’
TBR – Sebastian Guenzatti (Leo Fernandes) 45+2’
HFD – Danny Barrera (Derek Dodson) 90+4’

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