Tampa Bay Roadiz beat Orange County 3-0 in a USL Championship Group Stage match on Saturday. The visitors took the lead through a penalty before adding two more goals to move clear at the top of the table. Orange County had won three of their last five games but could not find a way through a disciplined Tampa Bay defence.
It was M. Myers who opened the scoring in the twenty-fourth minute with a spot-kick. «And here's the thing», he had been fouled inside the box and the referee had no hesitation. Myers converted with a calm finish that caught the goalkeeper off his line. The goal changed the complexion of the game and Orange County had to chase.
M. Micaletto doubled the advantage in the fifty-eighth minute. He made a run into the channel and received a pass that split the defence. «By then» the home side had grown tired and the spaces were opening up. The finish was clinical and Tampa Bay were now two goals ahead with forty minutes remaining.
K. Henderlong added a third in the eighty-ninth minute. A quick counter-attack found him in space and he slid the ball past the keeper. «To be fair» Orange County had thrown bodies forward but left themselves exposed. Five minutes of added time brought a yellow card for E. Solis but no reply.
Tampa Bay were more efficient. They registered four shots on target with only thirty-six per cent accuracy, while Orange County failed to hit the target from four attempts. The visitors created four big chances compared to one for the hosts. Possession was split sixty-forty in favour of the home side but it made little difference.
The result leaves Orange County third on thirty-six points from twenty-three matches. Tampa Bay extend their lead at the summit with forty-eight points. The gap between the two sides is now twelve points and the visitors look increasingly likely to finish top of the group.