MIAMI – Marco Micaletto scored a spectacular strike with 10 minutes to go to lift the Tampa Bay Rowdies to a 3-2 victory against Miami FC at Pitbull Stadium on Saturday night as the 10-player visitors pulled a result out after letting a two-goal lead get away after goals by Arney Rocha and Jürgen Locadia for the hosts.
The Rowdies made an ideal start as they took the lead in the 10th minute when MD Myers played Russell Cicerone in behind Miami’s high defensive line before the veteran forward finish low to the right corner to open the scoring. Myers then added a second two minutes later, beginning and ending the move as he played Sebastian Cruz in down the right flank and then forged forward to join the attack, allowing Cruz to find him as he arrived in the penalty area before finishing into the left corner.
The game began to swing toward Miami in first-half stoppage time as first Arney Rocha converted from the penalty spot after a foul in the penalty area, and then Tampa Bay’s Isaiah LeFlore was sent off for his second yellow card of the game. Miami found its equalizer with 14 minutes to go when Curaçao international Locadia finished from close range off a cutback cross from Mathieu Ndongo, but four minutes later Micaletto produced a spectacular strike from inside the center circle that lobbed Miami goalkeeper Eloy Room, giving the Eastern Conference leaders all three points.
Takeaways
Miami FC – The hosts did well to recover from their early deficit, showing resilience to apply pressure on the Rowdies’ back line that resulted in a pair of goals, but the late lapse that allowed Marco Micaletto to take advantage of their high back line – which resulted in goalkeeper Eloy Room playing well off his line – proved costly. Miami has now suffered nine consecutive losses in the Championship to its in-state foe, with this one of the toughest.
Tampa Bay Rowdies – The visitors couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game as MD Myers twice showed why he’s one of the best No. 9s in the league, providing a goal and assist to stake Tampa Bay to a two-goal lead, but will have wanted to manage the game more smoothly from there to avoid the potential of dropped points. Marco Micaletto’s highlight-reel finish pulled all three points out of the fire, but the side will need to be sharper defensively as it hosts Louisville City FC next Saturday night.