On Friday night at Audi Field, for Denise Schilte-Brown’s Tampa Bay Sun FC, a 1-1 draw away from home seems to be an indication of a game that they controlled tactically but dropped a few too many chances to score and thus lost a chance to take three points away from a tough venue.
In the first half, the Sun were tactically perfect in executing Schilte-Brown’s game plan. Playing in their typical formation, Tampa Bay neutralized DC Power’s midfield engine room by cutting out passing lanes and winning the ball in the middle third. By keeping the DC Power team unsettled and denying them time to set up, the Sun took control and territorial advantage.
The goal for the Sun came thanks to Shea Connors, who showed once again how lethal she is when off the ball and how perfectly she times her runs to goal. She was quick enough to get to the ball and find some space behind the DC goalkeeper to score the goal, which put the Sun FC ahead.
Connors showed once again that she is a player to watch. Her tireless work rate stretched the back line of the opposition, and she was a constant threat to the central defenders, pinning them down when she played the ball backwards as the Sun tried to switch on the counterattack.
For the second half, however, the tactical dynamics changed as the DC Power made adjustments in their block and started applying more pressure on Tampa Bay’s build-up. From there, some problems became evident for Tampa Bay as their inability to get rid of the ball quickly and under pressure began to affect them again. The midfielders, dominant in the first half, started to drop too deep and provided less and less support in midfield, making it easier for the opposing team to apply more pressure.
The equalizer for DC came as a result of a lack of concentration from Tampa Bay. Once the breakdown in defensive organization happened, Tampa Bay’s backline was left with two choices: either step up and try to play the offside trap or drop back and get the players back. Neither option was picked, and Jaskaniec got unmarked and tapped the ball into an empty net. While it was a case of collective miscommunication, the question remains whether the backline of Tampa Bay was in the right position and moving fast enough to deal with the cross in the box.
Throughout the game, officiating was a problem, with inconsistencies being apparent from the beginning to the end of the match. The referee was indecisive about what constitutes a foul in any situation.
The game’s biggest controversial moment involved Shea Connors. After a no-call in the box of the DC Power goalkeeper Cappelletti, Shea Connors approached the keeper to express her displeasure after being fouled. Replays and different angles showed a possible penalty, and even without it, the chaos still warranted leniency from the referee. Instead of giving the Sun a legitimate chance to win the game, a yellow card warning was given.
Even if Shea Connors has a bit of a temper, the above-described moment shows that she is a player whose passion and aggression on the field make her the heart of the team’s offense.
In conclusion, it is necessary to say that, despite failing to take advantage of a promising start and having to settle for a draw, the Tampa Bay Sun FC showed themselves to be a competent team with all the qualities to do well in the competition. Connors proved herself to be an offensive weapon in the USL Super League. As for the Sun FC as a whole, they showed impressive tactical discipline in controlling the game and taking one point from a very tough venue.
If Schilte-Brown’s side can sort out their defensive lapses late in the game, then nights like these will change from frustrating draws into statement wins.
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