6-7-25 Lou City FC 2-Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
Is it just me, or has it been approximately 900 sleeps since we saw Lou City play at home? Fans were clearly excited for the home match, even braving the misty, spitting rain that hung around most of the first half. For media, it meant sitting on the wet pitch where the bugs were also congregated to view the match. But I wouldn’t have traded my wet spot for any seat in the house!
Last night we welcomed back Cameron Lancaster (who wondered what kind of reception he would receive) and ate up every delicious morsel of the goals from Phil Goodrum (reminding us that he is fully capable of finding the net consistently) and Ray Serrano (who frequently encouraged the fans to get louder, and they did). As always, I captured lots of fun events and will include my commentary below. Pictures are free to download and use for those of you wanting to have a blanket made with Lancaster’s face on it. (A friend of ours did this with his own face for our white elephant Christmas last year and it was a huge, creepy favorite. 12/10 recommend.)
The warm-up jerseys were amazing and put to shame the most pukey shade of puke green jerseys that the Rowdies wore. I guess their pride was in how well they matched the color of the pitch.
Look at that talent on the bench! Niall McCabe is spotted stealing a towel from the front row and checking to see if any of the coaches have an umbrella he could borrow.
During the line-up, Jansen Wilson seems to have spotted his family in the stands, but they don’t see him. “Hey guys, I’m right here, on the pitch. Put down your phones!”
The Rowdies greet the Boys in Purple for some fist bumps. Is 27 going to slap McFadden? No, the game hasn’t even started yet. He’ll just wait and foul him later.
Pre-match huddle, where Kyle Adams reminds the team not to worry about how their hair will hold up in the rain. It’s not like anyone is taking pictures.
Yesssirrrrrr. ‘Bout to go out and get three points.
If we created superlatives for the team, I think I’d vote Aiden McFadden “most likely to hold a grudge against a soccer ball.”
I’d hold a grudge against the ball too, if I brought it all the way down field and then it refused to go in the net. I can’t be certain that this was one of the several handballs that the refs refused to call, but who besides the Keeper jumps in the air with their arms up to block a goal? This ain’t volleyball.
McFadden delivers a beautiful assist to Goodrum for the first goal of the game. The Keeper is literally on his knees praying for an offsides call. In the words of TLC in the early nineties, “never gonna get it, never gonna get it…”
Boo and Yah. I love the finger pointing - Goodrum shares the credit with McFadden, who then shares the credit with the Tampa Keeper.
Another option for arm placement to avoid a handball - airplane mode, demonstrated here by Wilson, with Taylor Davila close behind, taking notes.
I missed Manny Perez last night (hope he didn’t injure himself dancing!). He usually defends on the right, where I sit for the first half. Having said that, I think I got even batter material from McFadden because he is so electric. Just ask this guy.
Second goal! This one from Serrano. I missed his actual shot because I was focused on where I knew the ball was going. I don’t recommend this as a photograph technique.
I do, however, recommend this as a celebration technique. You never really outgrow sticking out your tongue as a form of taunting. Ray Serrano proves he is an excellent tongue-sticker-outer.
Celebration Gallery, for when I can’t choose just one great picture.
The Rowdies did occasionally try to score but Las was not having any of their volleyball antics.
Evan Davila’s high jump skills and voluminous hair won this face-off.
Possibly the first sign of the shortcomings of the refs - Taylor Davila stood for the equivalent of three Super Bowl commercials waiting for the ref to whistle to restart play.
Another header with at least partial credit attributed to the hair factor.
Wilson surprises everyone including himself with his control of the ball.
Out! Offside! One hot dog to go! Tampa Bay wants something called. Dia managed the ball well.
Taylor Davila had a fantastic game. That is all.
Here comes the bench. The air around them just breathes different than other air.
Spotlight on McFadden.
I don’t know what the Tampa Bay coach was up to here, maybe practicing a victory dance in case they ever win. Amadou Dia breezed past him and about 23 other Rowdies on his run.
Dia, reminding everyone where the goal is.
Have to include a picture of our captain, the master of behinds-the-scene play and avoider of my camera last night.
Exactly how much holding is allowed versus what’s being displayed here? The refs observed jersey pulling (“no problem”), shoving to the ground (“sure, why not”) and bear hugs on corner kicks (“no one is bleeding”).
Notice the group on the right, huddled together like teenagers watching A Quiet Place.
More volleyball as Lou City tries for a final goal with some subs now in place.
Absolutely thrilled to see Kevon Lambert and Adrien Perez take the field and wake up the ball.
Header by Josh Jones. The ball was just not interested in the net in the 2nd half.
The return of Cameron LancasteRRRRRRRR (at least that’s what the banner calls him). The crowd was thrilled and Cam was relieved. In his post-match interview, he said that he wasn’t sure how fans would feel about his return. Yes, we hated him when he played for Lexington, but we love him when he plays for us. That’s how sports and love works.
Header from Kyle Adams to keep Tampa Bay out of the goal and secure the win!
Post-match interviews with Phil Goodrum, Coach Danny, and Cameron Lancaster
Other great shots and Post-Match celebrations
