DCU Guest Writer Daniel Morris @dandaman_Morris
Loudoun took on the first place Tampa Bay Rowdies on Monday night. Two set piece goals in the first half proved too much for Loudoun as they found themselves back in the losing column following their most emphatic win of the season last week. As has been the story before this season, Loudoun provided chances to come back but failed to capitalize on them. Ku-DiPietro, Darluis Paz, and Jovanny Bolivar shown bright throughout the match but failed to get the ball definitively over the line.
The first half goals (that would eventually prove to be the games only goals) both came from set pieces. The first in the 23rd minute came from a foul just on the edge of the box at the top of the 18. Lewis Hilton took the kick and placed it well, low and to Jermaine Fordah’s right side as it slotted into the side netting giving the away side the lead. The second goal came in stoppage time of the first half, but this time from a freekick closer to half field than it was to Loudoun’s goal. But, Hilton again produced and found the towering Forrest Lasso in the box who sent a looping header over Fordah into the back of the net.
Loudoun had chances on the night despite playing one of the stingiest defenses in the Atlantic Conference. Jovanny Blivar returned from his spell with DC United and had an immediate impact in the 5th minute almost catching the Rowdies goalkeeper sleeping on the ball, but nothing came of it. In the 18th minute, Jacob Greene, the 18 year old academy product, had a hard low shot from inside the box that was saved by Rowdies goalkeeper, Evan Louro.
Louro came up big again in the second half when , after first conceding the foul in his own penalty area, saved the ensuing penalty kick from Timmy Mehl. Mehl is not usually the penalty taker for Loudoun so eyebrows should be raised at that decision. Paz, who entered the game at half time, was dangerous for the entire second half but failed to get on the score sheet. The promising combination play between Paz and Bolivar granted a good chance in the 60th but Bolivar’s shot went wide right. Later in the half Ryan Martin added more attacking options in Kairou Amoustapha and Tyler Gabarra, but to no avail. Gabarra had a nice volley late in the game that was again saved by Louro.
In all, Loudoun had nearly all players available for the second game in a row (only missing Jeremy Garay for International duty) and failed to capitalize on their chances. Loudoun went toe-to-toe with a heavy weight in their division, but again, a lack of finishing proved to be their downfall.
Loudoun’s next match is at home against third place in the Mountain west, Rio Grande Valley Toros, on Sat., Sept. 4th at 8:30 PM.
¡Vamos!
Box Score
Loudoun United FC 0
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 (Hilton ‘23, Lasso ‘45+3)
Lineups:
Loudoun (433): Jermaine Fordah, Allexon Saravia (Samson Sergi 61′), Jacob Greene, Michael DeShields (Darluis Paz HT), Timmy Mehl (c), Ted Ku-DiPietro, Nicky Downs (Tyler Gabarra 61′), Robert Dambrot (Wahab Ackwei 70′), Houssou Landry, Jovanny Bolivar (Kairou Amoustapha 71′), Kimarni Smith
Tampa Bay (3421): Evan Louro, Forrest Lasso, Aaron Guillen Jordan Scarlett, Lewis Hilton, William Connor Antley (Max Lechowski 73′), Sebastian Dalgaard, Jordan Doherty (Matthew Srbely 86′), Yann Ekra (Laurence Wyke 61′), Sebastian Guenzatti (c) (Juan Tejada 73′), Steevan Dos Santos (Lucky Mkosana 73′).
Discipline:Loudoun – Saravia 36, Houssou 64
Tampa Bay – Wyke 82, Mkosana 87