While the I-4 in Florida is known for standstill traffic, that is certainly not the case when it comes to the derby that shares its name. While these sides don’t meet as often, that makes every encounter more meaningful. The supporters were ready. Orlando’s Iron Lion Firm arrived with a thick cloud of purple smoke and pyrotechnics being shot in the air. Those same smoke canisters were then thrown on the field as they marched into the stadium. Rowdies fans responded in kind with a tifo before kickoff. The stage was set for another chapter in this Floridian Derby.
The Rowdies hosted the I-4 Derby for the first time, on the 50th anniversary of their club. While Tampa Bay’s league form hasn’t been great, maybe a magical cup run can be just the thing they need to steer the ship around and gain some momentum. 2022 Open Cup winners Orlando City are making their return to the Open Cup after not being able to participate last year. Their fanbase were one of the most vocal online last year about their club’s exclusion from the tournament. They entered this year with the hopes of winning it all again.
Orlando’s hopes off lifting the trophy again got off on the right foot with three first half goals in an eight-minute span, two of them by 16-year-old Gustavo Caraballo. The Lions didn’t look back, adding two more second half goals and cruised to a 5-0 win, their third victory in as many meetings against the Rowdies.
Right at the start, both teams immediately tried to dictate the pace. The Rowdies came out with a more physical approach, racking up fouls in the first 10 minutes. While Orlando had a suffocating high press which had the Rowdies on the ropes and playing keep away within the 18-yard box. The first card of the match was given to Rowdies’ Daniel Crisostomo who had to stop a possible Orlando scoring opportunity after they regained possession from a bad giveaway on Tampa’s part.
Before the hydration break, Orlando had the better chances in front of goal. Rowdies goalkeeper Dante Campisi did his best to keep the score at bay as Orlando continued their onslaught in front of goal. A breakaway opportunity presented itself for them, but an errand chip shot by Leonardo Fernandes squandered one of the few chances they had to get on the board.
The Open Cup is a great tool for coaches to evaluate young talent. For these players, the cup provides them an opportunity they might not get in regular season matches. Wednesday night at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla., a star may have been born.
Gustavo Carballo is a regular player for Orlando’s NEXT Pro side and recently signed for the main squad. He was a leading part in the team’s triumph in the Generation Adidas Cup by scoring a brace in the final. Today, he got the nod from Oscar Pareja to start and rewarded his club in kind with another brace against the Rowdies. With those goals, he became the youngest goalscorer for the club.
“I’m just super happy I was able to get those two goals to help the team,” said the 16-year-old man of the match. “It was a great way to start off (the) Open Cup, and I’m just happy to have helped.”
After the second goal, the wheels seemed to have fallen off for the Rowdies. Orlando delivered one more blow before halftime with a goal from Ramiro Enrique. It was evident that the unfortunate struggles for the Rowdies in league play had bled over into the Open Cup.
Both sides made changes at halftime which reflected their mindset. Orlando looked to close down the game, while Tampa brought in reinforcements since they were chasing the scoreline. After a nice sequence of play started by captain Rodrigo Schlegel, one of Orlando’s subs, Duncan McGuire, would score the team’s fourth goal of the night near the 60-minute mark.
The Rowdies showed some fight in the dying minutes, with a few good chances involving Oliver Basset. However, Orlando would take one more goal at the ninetieth minute, scored by Dagur Thorhallsson. With that, the Rowdies’ run in the 2025 edition of the tournament comes to an end and Orlando City move on to the round of sixteen.
“We’re very happy to advance in the Cup. We really appreciate the fact that we are representing our club in this prestigious tournament,” said Pareja, who won the US Open Cup as a manager with FC Dallas in 2016 and Orlando City in 2022.
He went on to congratulate Gustavo Caraballo’s achievement in the match and also congratulated the academy which helped develop him.
“They have done a tremendous job in developing these kids and putting them on the first team for us is a privilege,” added Pareja. Orlando will host visiting Nashville SC in two weeks time.
Once the final whistle blew, the entire Rowdies squad huddled up to process the loss. To their credit, they showed face to the supporters and gave them the opportunity to voice their disappointment with the season so far. There are only a handful of teams in this country which have the level of history the Rowdies have. What should be a season of reflection and celebration, has turned into a nightmare.
“With 15 to 20 minutes to go, it was important for me to stand on the touch line and take in the atmosphere and understand that, the game itself, is a performance business,” remarked Rowdies interim head coach Steve Coleman.
“(The supporters) have every right to be disappointed in the team and the staff involved.”