ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pierre Da Silva scored the only goal as Miami FC earned its first away victory against in-state rival the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a 1-0 win at Al Lang Stadium that saw Miami goalkeeper Connor Sparrow record the 20th shutout of his USL Championship regular season career.

Neither side was able to create much in the attacking third early in the contest, and the first real look on goal didn’t arrive until Miami was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area that Aedan Stanley curled over the defensive wall but had tipped onto the crossbar by Rowdies goalkeeper CJ Cochran. A couple of minutes later, Tampa Bay threatened for the first time as Jake Areman created space to deliver a cross from then left that was headed up and over his goal by Miami’s Aedan Stanley with Rowdies forward Steevan Dos Santos was lurking.

Miami took the lead six minutes into the second half, however, as El Salvador international Joshua Perez curled a shot from 20 yards toward the bottom left corner. Cochran got down to parry the shot, but Da Silva was first to react to the rebound and lifted a finish home for his first goal of the season. The Rowdies tried to find a way back into the game, and Juan Tejada fired just wide of the left post with 19 minutes to go before second-half substitute Sebastian Guenzatti couldn’t get full purchase on a volley which allowed Miami’s Connor Sparrow to save shortly after the Rowdies’ captain was introduced.

Areman was the next to try and find an equalizer for Tampa Bay with a half-volleyed finish that went into the near-side netting from the left side of the penalty area, while Guenzatti had a pair of efforts go off target as the hosts pushed with the game entering stoppage time. After Jake LaCava’s final chance went high and wide of the mark, however, time ran out for the hosts as Miami earned a famous road victory.

USL Championship Player of the Match

Pierre Da Silva, Miami FC – Da Silva scored the only goal on his lone shot of the game, while also completing 17 of 22 passes and winning 3 of 6 duels as the visitors walked away victorious.

Scoring Summary
MIA – Pierre Da Silva 51’

Full Box Score