
Saturday, August 17 – 7:30 PM ET | Al Lang Stadium
Tampa, FL- Loudoun United recorded a regular season sweep against Tampa Bay, winning its second matchup against the Rowdies by a score of 2-0.
The early minutes of the first half saw Loudoun start the match off with a high press, however it did not last long. Tampa, entering into the match six games unbeaten, created a majority of the first half attacking chances.
Tampa’s first promising opportunity came in the 10th minute. Joshua Peréz received a square pass from Lewis Hilton at the top of the box and took a first time curling shot that went just wide of the post.
In the 22nd minute, Hilton came close to goal himself, taking a strike from 20 yards that barely missed the post.
22' | Hilton inches away from an opener!
— Tampa Bay Rowdies (@TampaBayRowdies) August 18, 2024
0-0 | #TBRvLDN pic.twitter.com/ADA7H6dRQK
Wesley Leggett put Loudoun up 1-0 in the 34th minute. Kalil ElMedkhar found himself on the end of a through ball and in behind the Tampa defensive line. ElMedkhar calmly played a pass across to Leggett, past the onrushing Jordan Farr, leading to a tap in finish for Leggett.
The goal to put us ahead 😤#TBRvLDN | #LoudAndUnited pic.twitter.com/hAhxbiEJRh
— Loudoun United FC (@LoudounUnitedFC) August 18, 2024
While Loudoun finished the half with two shots, it held the majority of possession at 58.6%. Tampa, on the other hand, recorded 10 shots yet only placed one on target.
Zach Ryan came inches from doubling the lead in the 49th minute. ElMedkhar played yet another ball across the box, this time finding Ryan. From seven yards out, Ryan took a touch and released a shot that went just wide of the post.
The Rowdies were reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute following a collision between Blake Bodily and Hugo Fauroux.
Ryan finally found his luck and doubled the lead for Loudoun in the 69th minute. Kwame Awuah played a lifted ball to the right wing, finding the head of Robby Dambrot. Dambrot’s first time header across the face of goal caused Farr to come off his line. However, Farr was not able to collect the ball which landed at the head of Ryan, who calmly finished his chance into the back of an empty net.
The lead is now doubled 🫡@ztryan_14 finishes at the back post for @LoudounUnitedFC! pic.twitter.com/SCofAfm45B
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) August 18, 2024
Loudoun’s two goals tonight at Al Lang Stadium equal the amount of goals it has scored in its prior five trips to Tampa. LUFC return home for its next match against Rhode Island FC on August 24 at 7:15p.m ET.
Post Match Conversations
Zach Ryan on finding the back of the net for the ninth time this season:
“The attitude is pretty simple. I’m just trying to keep doing the same things I’ve done and fill my role that the coaches put out for me every weekend. Just continuing to stay around the goal is the main thing.”
Ryan Martin on bouncing back from last week’s road loss to Oakland:
“We talked about how to respond from adversity and its shows the resilience and character that we have in our locker room. It was an incredibly gutsy performance in a very difficult place to play.”
Quick Notes
- This is the first time in club history that Loudoun has won both regular season matchups against Tampa Bay.
- Following tonight’s match, Kalil ElMedkhar has now recorded four goals on the season while Wesley Leggett has scored seven goals thus far.
- Hugo Fauroux recorded his seventh clean sheet of the season.
- Zach Ryan returned to the scoresheet, netting his ninth goal of the season to double the lead for Loudoun.
- Loudoun return home on August 24 to take on Rhode Island FC at 7:15pm E.T. The match will features over 15 food trucks throughout the stadium as a part of the night’s Food Truck Fest!
