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Gameday Report: Early Strike Paves Way for Rowdies vs. Indy

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 03/19/22, 9:48PM EDT

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Tejada’s goal after 34 seconds opened 2-0 victory for defending Eastern Conference title holders

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies earned their first win of the 2022 season as a first-minute goal by Juan Tejada paved the way to a 2-0 victory against Indy Eleven before a crowd of 5,192 fans at Al Lang Stadium.

The Rowdies made a flying start, scoring after 34 seconds as Sebastian Guenzatti controlled on the right, beat his marker as he cut inside and found Tejada inside the penalty area for a clean finish to the left corner. Guenzatti almost added a second in the ninth minute as he seized on slip at the back by Haiti international Mechack Jerome but was thwarted from a narrow angle by Indy’s Elliot Panicco, and the shot-stopper was called on again in the 18th minute to deny Sebastian Dalgaard as he got into the right side of the penalty area for a chance.

Tampa Bay went to the break with a one-goal lead but doubled it six minutes into the second half as Leo Fernandes delivered a cross from the left to the back post where Tejada headed back to Jake LaCava for a first-time finish into the right corner. Indy was then reduced to 10 men as Raul Aguilar Jr. was sent off for second yellow card just before the hour-mark, and a few minutes later Tampa Bay hit the woodwork through a curling shot from Laurence Wyke from outside the top-left edge of the penalty area that caromed back off Panicco but behind for a corner kick. Indy had a late chance to pull back a goal when Jared Timmer’s header off a corner kick from the right was saved by Rowdies goalkeeper CJ Cochran, but that proved one of only two saves he had to make on the night as Tampa Bay saw out the win.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Juan Tejada, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Tejada notched a goal and assist for the hosts and had an sharp performance overall, completing 16 of 18 passes and two key passes while winning 4 of 5 duels.

Scoring Summary
TBR
– Juan Tejada (Sebastian Guenzatti) 1’
TBR – Jake LaCava (Juan Tejada) 51’

Full Box Score

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