New York Red Bulls II will travel to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday, October 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage available on ESPN+.
Match Notes
Last Dance – Saturday will mark New York’s final match in USL Championship, as the club will transition to MLS NEXT Pro for the 2023 season. It will be the club’s 253rd all-time match over eight years in the league. New York has 98 all-time victories, five postseason appearances and nine postseason victories. It also won the 2016 USL Cup at Red Bull Arena.
Familiar Faces – Jordan Adebayo-Smith, who is on loan from the Rowdies, will face his former team for the second time this season. The striker logged 24 minutes in the first meeting between the sides on April 23. Jake LaCava, a former Red Bulls II player and current New York Red Bulls loan, ranks second on the Rowdies with 11 goals.
Closing out the Rivalry – New York and Tampa Bay will meet for the 14th time in their history on Saturday night, with the Rowdies holding a slight 6-4-3 edge in the all-time series. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in their previous meeting this year on April 23 at MSU Soccer Park. Only two of the last seven matches have taken place at Al Lang Stadium.
Last Time Out
New York fell to Memphis 901 FC 2-1 on Saturday, October 9 at AutoZone Park. Stiven Plaza scored his first Red Bulls II goal, and Omar Valencia tallied his first professional assist on the goal.
Tampa Bay defeated El Paso Locomotive FC 3-1 on Wednesday, October 12 at Al Lang Stadium. Leo Fernandes recorded a brace to increase his goal total to a team-leading 18, and Sebastián Guenzatti scored his fifth of the season.
Important Numbers
3 – Red Bulls II saw three 15-year-old players appear in its last match, which is the most in a single match in club history.
5 – Five of the last six meetings between New York and Tampa Bay have been decided by one goal or less.
14 – New York will take on Tampa Bay for the 14th time in club history, which ranks third-most among active USL Championship clubs (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Charleston Battery).
