NS. PETERSBURG – In the first 30 minutes, the visitors dominated. For the next 30 years, the rowdies took control but failed to get the first shot on goal.
The last 30 has been all about Steevan Dos Santos and another win for Tampa Bay, now 4-0-1 in the last five games after beating Charlotte in front of the announced 4,461 fans at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday. Dos Santos, who was out for almost three months with a broken foot, scored his first goals since May in the 73rd and 76th minutes.
“I thought the second half was one of our best performances of the season and I thought the first half was one of our worst,” said Rowdies coach Neill Collins of the 2-0 win. “It was a great game tonight and I’m glad we emerged victorious.”
Tampa Bay (13-6-1, 40 points) kept pace with Pittsburgh (12-6-4) who briefly held the Atlantic Division lead thanks to a late goal and a 3-2 win at Hartford on Saturday.
Dos Santos, who switched from the bench 25 minutes before the end, headed a dead end. Laurence Wyke sent a ball down the left flank for Sebastian Dalgaard, whose cross was deflected by a Charlotte defender before Dos Santos got him firmly to the left post by helpless goalkeeper Austin Pack.
“We were in that phase of the game where we felt that he could really influence it. Of course we know from the start that he can influence it, but we have to take care of him (physically), ”said Collins of Dos Santos. “We were at the top, we felt he could cause problems and he definitely did.”
Steevan Dos Santos, Center, was absent for almost three months due to an injury. [ SCOTT PURKS | Special to the Times ]
Charlotte, who had missed no scoring chance in the second half, was immediately susceptible to another goal.
Conner Antley’s hustle and bustle to keep a ball from rolling out for a goal kick extended the attack, half-time substitute Yann Ekra made a theft and matched Wyke, who spotted Dos Santos for the one-touch goal with his left foot.
Dos Santos’s four-minute performance is equal to the total number of goals Tampa Bay has allowed during its five positive-scoring games.
“Everyone improved their game in the second half. Laurence showed great energy and added quality moments that were missing in the first half. And Conner, that’s what we’re all about, this relentless energy, this relentless press to get the ball back and it has paid off, ”said Collins.
Ekra’s insertion was one of several steps Collins felt necessary to change the competition. The Independence, who brought the game to Tampa Bay early in the game, took a couple of decent shots in the closing minutes, but managed the Dos Santos double. He has five goals, two after captain Sebastian Guenzatti’s nine this season.
Lucky Mkosana made his first start to the season on the site of Dos Santos and was credited in the 64th minute with Tampa Bay’s first shot on goal, also after a Wyke pass.
Charlotte managed to get just one on frame despite an overall shot advantage of 15-12, and it came in the sixth minute. Rowdies goalkeeper Evan Louro parried a difficult save with his feet on Sylvain Marveaux’s strong attempt. Charlotte beat the rowdies 8-4 in the first half.
The rowdies return home on Friday to face the Oakland Roots from the Western Conference. Tampa Bay shared the four-game series with Charlotte, with the home side winning every time. The rowdies are now 8-2 at Al Lang.
The post Rowdies' Steevan Dos Santos makes up for lost time, scores twice first appeared on Daily Florida Press.
from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/rowdies-steevan-dos-santos-makes-up-for-lost-time-scores-twice/
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