In a preseason game, it’s easy to see what you want.
Some then, might look at the Rowdies 1-0 loss in their preseason opener against D.C. United with a sense of dread. Same old Rowdies?
Others, such as Tampa Bay coach Stuart Campbell, might look at the game as a promise. The Rowdies had several chances to score, and their defense played well, and the lone goal was a controversial one against a good team from the MLS.
With a long season ahead of him, yes, Campbell could see possibilities.
“You’re never happy to lose,” Cambell said. “We started a little slowly, but I thought from about the 30th minute, we were the better side. I was pleased with 60 minutes of our 90. This wasn’t just a normal NASL team we were playing. This was a good MLS team.”
The Rowdies gave up the only goal of the night in the 28th minute after a bit of controversy. Defender Darnell King appeared to be shoved out of bounds by Luciano Acosta, and the ball appeared to trickle over the line. Neither was called, however, and Acosta fed Fabian Espindola in front of the net for the goal.
“Yeah, he pulled me, and I looked down and saw the ball over the line,” King said. “But that’s on me. I have to play until the whistle.”
Campbell wasn’t concerned with the call as much as his team’s execution, however.
“It was a bad goal, regardless of preseason or not,” he said. “I’m not concerned whether the ball was in or out. We had time to defend and make a better choice on the ball. I’m glad it happened now so it won’t happen again”
Campbell almost completely changed his lineup in the second half, but he said there was no significance to it. The team has nine new players, so seeing a lot of them was important.
“The games are important,” Campbell said, “but the training is more important.”
The Rowdies are home Saturday night against the Philadelphia Union. On Wednesday at Al Lang, D.C. United plays Philadelphia and Montreal plays New York City FC in a doubleheader in the Suncoast Invitational Tournament.
