First goal will be key for Rowdies

Posted Jul 13, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 13, 2010 at 01:15 PM

How important is it for the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies to score the opening goal in Thursday’s game against the Puerto Rico Islanders?

It could be the biggest key to ending the team’s current six-game winless streak.

“If we were able to get the first goal it would definitely be a boost,” Rowdies captain Julian Valentin said after Tuesday morning’s practice. “I’m usually pretty good with stats but it escapes me now, but I think when we score first, our track record is pretty good when it comes to getting results.”

Valentin is correct that the Rowdies’ record when scoring first is, indeed, pretty good. In fact, when they have scored the opening goal they are undefeated, going 4-0-2. While the Rowdies have shown resilience this season, they would much rather make their opponents chase the game instead of having to do it themselves, which as Minnesota proved on Saturday can be a tough task.

“Against Minnesota, they scored first and sat back, then we’ve got to go and break them down,” Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish. “If we score first, they have to come to us and then we can hopefully pick them off when they come out to pressure us. I think it really suits our style of play when we score first, but I think most sides would say that.”

Given that statistical analysis has estimated the team that scores first will win 70 percent of the time, a fast start on Thursday could be the answer to the Rowdies’ recent struggles and allow them to take a step in the right direction.

“Starting out on the right foot is definitely big,” Valentin said, “and I’ll make sure the guys are ready in the locker room and we’ll hopefully come out like gangbusters.”