RECAP | Fury FC 0, Rowdies 0
The Tampa Bay Rowdies were unable to get on the scoresheet Saturday afternoon, but prevented Ottawa Fury FC from doing the same as the clubs played out a 0-0 draw at TD Place.
The draw leaves the Rowdies two points off the pace of the first-place New York Cosmos, pending results around the league this weekend. This match wrapped up a stretch of four road matches in the opening six for the Rowdies, who now benefit from playing three of their final four Spring Season matches at Al Lang Stadium.
Newly-acquired Rowdies midfielder Richard Menjivar made his club debut in the match, playing all 90 minutes.
Genuine scoring chances were few and far between in the opening 45 minutes. Ottawa had the best chance of the half in the ninth minute, when Sinisa Ubiparipovic’s free kick from just outside the box went through the Rowdies wall, but goalkeeper Matt Pickens dove to his left-hand side to make the save.
Tampa Bay could’ve scored once or twice in the first half, which was repeatedly stopped by injuries to Ottawa’s Romauld Peiser, Rafael Alves, and Rowdies captain Marcelo Saragosa.
Saragosa took a blow to the chin in the 34th minute, which drew blood and forced him off the field for about six minutes. The wound repeatedly re-opened and eventually resulted in Saragosa exiting the match in the 76th minute.
As the match wound down, each team had one final brilliant scoring chance, but neither side could convert.
The Rowdies were first, with second-half substitute Robert Hernandez playing a perfect chip in to Corey Hertzog near the penalty spot in the 79th minute, but Hertzog’s first-touch shot looped well over the crossbar and out of play.
Ottawa’s chance came in the 89th minute when defender-turned-forward Brandon Poltronieri benefitted off an errant back pass and found himself one-on-one with Pickens. Poltronieri took one too many touches toward goal and Pickens was able to leave his line and collect the ball.
It was the Rowdies’ second clean sheet in six matches to start the season.
