HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Lewis Hilton scored the decisive goal from the spot after goalkeeper Jordan Farr recorded a pair of saves as the Tampa Bay Rowdies advanced 3-1 in a penalty shootout against Detroit City FC at Keyworth Stadium on Saturday night after the sides had played to a 1-1 draw after extra time in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.

Cal Jennings had put the Rowdies ahead in the 19th minute before an own goal by Nick Moon pulled Detroit level four minutes into the second half as both Farr and Detroit City counterpart Nate Steinwascher made four saves apiece.

The Rowdies will now face the Charleston Battery in the Eastern Conference Semifinals next weekend.

Farr and Steinwascher shone early in the shootout, with Le Rouge’s shot-stopper making saves on both Manuel Arteaga and Joshua Perez only for Farr to match him with denials of Detroit’s Maxi Rodriguez and James Murphy. The Rowdies’ Eddie Munjoma and DCFC’s Ben Morris each scored in the third round, but the turning point came in the fourth where Jordan Doherty gave Tampa Bay the lead with a shot Steinwascher almost kept out before Detroit’s Elvis Amoh hit the crossbar with his effort.

That set the stage for Hilton, whose shot to the top-right corner was out of reach for Steinwasher as he went the correct way and sent Tampa Bay through.

The hosts had made a flying start when Rodriguez curled a shot from 20 yards just wide of the left post inside the opening 90 seconds, and the hosts threatened again in the 18th minute when Morris’ long-range strike was parried by Farr before he recovered to smother Connor Rutz’s chance on the rebound.

A minute later, however, the Rowdies took the lead. Leo Fernandes’ near-post delivery of a corner kick from the right was met at the near post by Jennings, whose flicked header found the net for his third consecutive outing with a goal and 16th goal of the season overall. Tampa Bay carried its lead into the break, but four minutes into the second half a set piece by Detroit’s Ryan Williams from the left caromed off Moon and found the left corner of the net to pull the hosts level.

Le Rouge threatened to grab victory with 11 minutes to play as another delivery by Williams found its way to Devon Amoo-Mensah at the far post only for Farr to make a fine low save on his header, and the Rowdies’ goalkeeper was called on again to save the visitors in the 118th minute as he tipped a free kick by Williams from a central position onto the right post and away to safety. From there, however, the game went to the spot, where the Rowdies held their nerve to advance.  

Three Things that Mattered

1. FARR FROM DEAD: Jordan Farr’s first season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies has had some ups and downs, but when the side needed him to be at his best, the 2022 Championship Goalkeeper of the Year came through with a superb display. Beyond his saves in the penalty shootout, Farr came up with outstanding stops in regulation and extra time that helped keep the Rowdies in the game, the most spectacular of which might have been his 118th-minute denial of Detroit’s Ryan Williams on a free kick that almost certainly would have decided the game. As he seeks his second title in three seasons, this was the version of Farr recognizable to everyone as one of the best shot-stoppers in the game.

2. JENNINGS, FERNANDES BUILD CHEMISTRY: Neither Leo Fernandes nor Cal Jennings saw out the 90 minutes, but the understanding they’ve started to build continued to show itself in difficult conditions at Keyworth Stadium. Jennings’ third goal in as many games came off a fine set piece delivery by Fernandes with his near post run and flicked header over traffic giving Detroit goalkeeper Nate Steinwascher little chance to react. As we noted before the playoffs, Jennings being in form could be a difference-maker for the Rowdies. It didn’t provide the game-winner tonight, but in bagging the opening goal it set out the stall for Tampa Bay, which has still lost only once this season when it scores first.

3. DETROIT GETS TURNED AROUND: Detroit City handled being the home favorite impressively overall, but unlike some of its famous knockout game victories in this and previous years it was unable to come through when it truly mattered. That was of course in part thanks to Jordan Farr in the Rowdies net, but Le Rouge were outshot by Tampa Bay overall while the Rowdies had twice as many shots inside the penalty area (14-7) over the 120 minutes. This season was a major step forward for Le Rouge in consistency, and there’s a lot to build on for Head Coach Danny Dichio, but for once Detroit had to settle for being the side on the other side of the upset.

USL Championship.com Player of the Game

Jordan Farr, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Farr recorded key saves in regulation and extra time to keep the Rowdies in the game and then came up with a pair of denials to open the shootout to pave the way to his side advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Scoring Summary
TBR – Cal Jennings (Leo Fernandes) 19’
DET – Nick Moon (own goal) 49’

Penalty Shootout

Detroit City FC – Maxi Rodriguez, saved; James Murphy, saved; Ben Morris, scored; Elvis Amoh, missed;

Tampa Bay Rowdies – Manuel Arteaga, saved; Joshua Perez, saved; Eddie Munjoma, scored; Jordan Doherty, scored; Lewis Hilton, scored

Full Box Score