Tampa Bay Rowdies extend unbeaten run amid electric atmosphere at Al Lang

By Arturo Zapote-Lora 

Al Lang was engulfed in green and yellow smoke as the Tampa Bay Rowdies erupted in celebrations over their win at home. 

The streets of St. Pete were full of supporters wearing the trademark yellow and green colors as they walked to Al Lang stadium. Conversations about the matchup buzzed as fans waited in line to have their tickets scanned. 

As fans walked up the ramps, the Rowdies' monumental history was displayed on the walls. Muffled cheering echoed throughout the concourse while fans searched for their gate in anticipation for the match. 

Inside the stadium, yellow and green were displayed all over – on the seats, on the fans, and on the players. At kickoff, the primary supporters of the Rowdies, also known as Ralph’s Mob, began to wave their flags in the air while the capo struck the drums. 

Shouts of “let’s go Rowdies” echoed around the stadium as Karsen Henderlong scored the opening goal, sending the crowd into cheerful chaos. 

The Rowdies started off with immediate pressure on the away side. A flurry of promising chances filled the box with through balls and crosses to no avail. The crowd grew louder as the Rowdies maintained constant possession and high intensity against Sarasota. Children could be heard shouting “shoot it” at the home side with possession outside the 18-yard box. The supporters could feel a goal coming soon. 

“I can’t wait till we score, this place will go nuts. We kept playing on Sarasota’s side of the field. It won’t be hard to make one,” said a Rowdies fan. Al Lang erupted into cheers as Henderlong scored the opener in the 31st minute. The fans jumped out of their seats waving their Rowdies scarf with the iconic green and yellow smoke covering the supporters once again. Their goal also meant the club was able to donate $250 to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital.  

When the referee blew the whistle for halftime, plenty of young and adult fans ran up to the guard rails hoping to score a picture with Pinnie and Pete, the club’s mascot. While many were grabbing snacks and other amenities before the second half, the club presented families of American soldiers who have recently retired from duty on the pitch. Officials got the crowd riled up as they threw t-shirts and other fan gear for those still in their seats as the rest of the supporters returned for the start of the second half. 

Sarasota started the second half with possession in their half, leaving the Rowdies to apply pressure. It was in this half where fans began to panic as a scramble in defense gave Jonathon Bolanos a shot on goal, which was blocked then retrieved by goalkeeper Jahmali Waite. Chanting and clapping in sync with the drums filled the stadium as Henderlong scored off a cross from Mattheus Oliveira to add to the Rowdies lead in the 59th minute. 

There would be another shot on goal from Sarasota that followed suit carefully retrieved by Waite. Hands in the air with jubilation across the Rowdies fans faces as the referee blew the final whistle to seal this match at 2-0. 

It was the Rowdies' seventh game of their current undefeated season and their first of the USL Cup – a competition with 42 teams from both the USL Championship and USL League One. Sarasota, USL League one newcomers, came off a 2-1 victory in the USL League one against Corpus Christi looking to extend their winning run. 

The Rowdies continue their unbeaten run and pick up points, moving them first in their group of the USL Cup. They now play in the USL Championship on Saturday at Al Lang against Indy Eleven.