JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Evan Conway scored the game-winner deep in second-half stoppage time as the Tampa Bay Rowdies earned a 1-0 victory against Sporting Club Jacksonville at Hodges Stadium to maintain their perfect start to the 2026 campaign with a fourth consecutive victory.
Jacksonville created the best chance of the first half but Emil Jääskeläinen was unable to get a clean finish away from close to the top of the six-yard area under pressure from a pair of Tampa Bay defenders. The Rowdies had the better of possession in a scoreless opening half, however, and hit the woodwork either side of the break as Sebastian Cruz struck the left upright and Marco Micaletto hit the crossbar with shots from long-distance. Pedro Dolabella also went close with 19 minutes to go only to lift his finish over the crossbar past the advancing goalkeeper.
Tampa Bay had a late chance to grab the lead when Russell Cicerone was played into the left side of the penalty area but fired a shot just wide of the near post, but in the fifth minute of stoppage time Conway rose highest to head home a chipped cross from the left by Charlie Ostrem to keep the Rowdies’ winning streak alive.
Takeaways
Sporting Club Jacksonville – The hosts appeared on the verge of claiming a point and their first shutout in the USL Championship but had those chances dashed at the last by their in-state foe. Jacksonville remains winless this season and only recorded one shot on target in its pursuit of that first victory on Saturday.
Tampa Bay Rowdies – The Rowdies were on the verge of paying for a lack of precision in the final third in a performance that saw them hold 70 percent of possession but Evan Conway’s late finish off a tremendous cross by Charlie Ostrem delivered the visitors all three points.