Tampa Bay Rowdies picked up a 2-0 road win over Louisville City FC on Friday night, with Matt Myers breaking the deadlock in the 76th minute and Max Schneider sealing the result deep in stoppage time off a Sebastian Cruz assist.
The first half was a cagey affair that produced no goals but plenty of edge. Louisville's Zach Duncan was cautioned in the 28th minute, and Cruz followed him into the book shortly after, picking up a yellow in the 43rd minute. Kyle Adams added a third booking to Louisville's tally early in the second half, cautioned in the 52nd minute as frustrations mounted for the home side.
The game turned in the 76th minute when Myers found the net to give Tampa Bay the lead. Louisville pushed forward in search of an equalizer but left themselves exposed at the back. Schneider, who had been booked just four minutes earlier in the 86th minute, made sure of the three points when he converted from Cruz's delivery in the fourth minute of added time. It was a fitting reward for Cruz, who stayed disciplined after his first-half yellow to deliver the decisive contribution at the other end.
Marco Micaletto picked up a late booking in the 93rd minute as Tampa Bay managed the closing moments, but it mattered little with the result already settled.
The victory gives the Rowdies valuable points on the road in the USL Championship and will raise questions about Louisville City's ability to grind out results at home during a difficult stretch of the season.
USL Championship