The Rowdies travel to Jacksonville on the 22nd to take on defending NPSL champs Jax United with the prize being a 3rd round home game vs the Colorado Rapids. This is a HUGE opportunity for the Rowdies and we hope that many fans and Mobsters are able to make the short trek up to Jacksonville to support the boys. I know its a week day, I know you've been saving those days off for when grandma comes to town, but this is serious business. The Rowdies should win this one, but do not count on it being easy. Who all is gonna be there?
I'm going, along with from what I can tell about a dozen others so far. Hopefully we have many more than that when all is said and done.
4 hour drive, wow is not as close as I imagined, but hey the game is at 7 right? so ends at 9 or maybe 10 if OT, then get back to Tampa at 2 am (ok maybe not very doable) Good luck if any of you make the trip.
Google Maps says it's doable. They peg that trip at right about 4 hours. So just have a designated driver (assuming Patton Park even has beer) and hop them up on Monster Energy. PRO TIP: Get your SunPass out and hit the SR 417 beltway on the way up. Traffic can get bad at 2pm on I-4 in Orlando. Even without traffic, Google says it only adds 6 minutes.
If we make it to the 3rd Round, we'd be lucky to play the RAPIDS at Home 'cause both FTL & OC$C have to play MLS Clubs Away if they make it to the 3rd Round as well: FTL STRIKERS @ San Jose Earthquakes ORLANDO CITY $C @ Sporting K.C.
**cough cough**, I want to go to this game. Im getting to the point where im going to say phuck it and call off to go.
I don't think Jax United should be taken lightly, especially the way the Rowdies have played as of late. That said, hopefully Tampay Bay can set up a third round showdown with the Rapids, which should be a good matchup. I see the FO has started selling tickets for the match (good idea) and hopefully some press will help us get a decent crowd. Since it is a Tuesday night, I would hope they could reach 5,000, provided they promote it. Nice to see they aren't jacking the ticket prices up.
no one is taking Jax lightly that I know. Of course everyone is excited over the possibility of hosting an MLS team in the 3rd round. Jax is an amateur side, but they are defending champs and won't make it easy. We should expect to win this game and if so then we're all gonna have a pretty damn good time in a week from now.
I'm not taking Jax United easy either. I just want to see a home game against an MLS side in the 3rd round. I'm excited for the team and excited for us fans. But we have to beat Jax United first. COYR
Noticed on the Rowdies' Facebook that they left for Jacksonville yesterday. Kind of suprised that they didn't just head over first thing this morning and skip the overnight stay. Dropping the dough on an overnight stay shows a professional approach to the cup. Hope the result goes our way.
They probably preferred to do the stay last night and do the all-night trip just tonight (or stay both nights and be well-rested overall), instead of being in a bus for 10 hours out of 24.
considering the USSF reimburses teams up to $8000 for travel expenses they would have been foolish not to go a day early.
Last year the Red Bulls took fifteen reserve players and their coaches didn't even travel for a match against the Chicago Fire and lost 4-0. That was foolish. Reimbursement or not, their approach shows a professional approach to a match with an amateur opponent. This club has not always done things quite right and I have been highly critical. I just wanted to give credit when they at least try to do something right on or off the field.
Not the liveliest match I've seen, but it was a good contest with a lot at stake for both clubs. Ralph's Mob was clearly represented with sign and song. After one hour weather delay, the match got off to a slow start. An early midfield miscue gifted Ambersey the Rowdies and opening goal. Jax had several opportunities to stay in this game, but seemed overwhelmed by the NASL side. Ambersley played part in the second goal which was heatedly contested by the United bench. Breaking down the left side he shot hard for McCrory to parry from his goal. Antoniuk was there to bury the rebound. Luke Mulholland seemed the busiest of the Tampa players. Although both teams looked lathargic from the late kick-off, Tampa kept the pace just a bit quicker and their fitness paid off in the 2nd half. Substitute Keith Savage finished the scoring with a feed from Mulholland. The visitors seldom threatened afterwards. Jax hit the post and had more than their share of opportunities. While not seeing him in league play before , Shane Hill was much more effective in the 2nd half, holding the ball well and sending Rowdies players through on many a pass. Tampa Bay will have to play at a much higher calibur against Colorado even though the Rapids are not playing exceptionally well. Hosting an MLS should bring a good crowd to Tampa. Good luck to the Rowdies. Attendance: 925 (announced) goals: '2 Ambersely, '17 Antoniuk, '65 Savage bookings: '20 Donaldson; '76 Allee
Meh, Rowdies got the job done and that was all. We clearly dominated the game and once we were up 3-0 we took the foot off the gas. Jacksonville United were not bad at all, just obviously an amateur team. They really only created one big scoring chance and were unlucky to not have scored on that chance. They had more possession than most other amateur teams might have managed and they certainly stood tall and tried hard, which was nice to see. They did get a few other shots off, but lets be honest they didn't actually have "more than their share of chances". Apart from some decent wing play and one glorious chance, the Rowdies were in control just about all night.
I wish you guys luck against the Rapids. I am a JUFC fan. It was cool seeing Ralph's Mob there because it shows the fans in Jacksonville how it's done. I'm trying to get people excited at both Jax Destroyers and JUFC games. I've had much more success with the Destroyers and was very disappointed that 900 people could drown out 20 even once all night. But I'm going to keep working on it!