Years of exciting, yet drawn, matches characterized the rivalry between San Antonio FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Matchday 19 of the 2025 season saw a dramatic shift in the story as San Antonio FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory in extra time, breaking their draw streak with Haakenson scoring from Paredes' assist. This post analyzes SAFC's performance against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
A history of tight games, frequently ending in ties, defines the long-standing rivalry between San Antonio FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Since 2017, a pattern of 1-1 draws emerged, culminating in high-scoring 3-3 and 2-2 ties in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating both teams' attacking style and balanced tactics. A closely contested rivalry was highlighted by three matches where neither team achieved a clear advantage. This USL Championship match-up's reputation for unpredictability is solidified by three consecutive draws, a statistical anomaly.
Matchday 19 of the 2025 season marked a turning point; San Antonio FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 extra-time win over their opponents, thanks to Luke Haakenson's goal, thus breaking their long streak of draws. By winning, SAFC earned bragging rights over their rivals and climbed to the top of the Western Conference. The timing is perfect, as they'll next face Sacramento Republic FC, currently fourth and coming off a dominant 3-0 victory against El Paso Locomotive. Having overcome the Rowdies, San Antonio FC now has momentum and confidence, aiming to stay atop the table in their next match.
Luke Haakenson's impact on San Antonio FC continues, as he's doubled his goal total from two in 2024 to four in 2025. This production spike emphasizes his enhanced attacking contributions and his successful adjustment to SAFC's tactics. In 2025, Haakenson's goal total has already equaled his previous best season with Nashville SC. The chart below visualizes his year-over-year growth and milestone surpassing the Nashville SC benchmark.
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