Sporting Jax men face must-win rivalry matchup in USL Cup

USL CUP MEN’S SOCCER

Who: Sporting Club Jacksonville vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 6.

Where: Hodges Stadium, University of North Florida.

Inside the Cup: Sporting Jax completes its group stage in the USL Cup, an in-season tournament that is separate from the standard USL Championship schedule. … Sporting Jax has earned four points thus far in the USL Cup, earning its lone competitive victory to date against Sarasota Paradise on May 13. … To keep its hopes alive for winning its group and advancing in the cup, Sporting Jax must defeat Tampa Bay, which has won both of its cup matches so far. … Even with a win, Sporting Jax would need help elsewhere to win the group.

The skinny: Last week, Sporting Jax scored late goals in consecutive games, tying San Antonio FC 4-4 and Brooklyn FC 2-2, although they blew a three-goal lead in the earlier encounter. … Sporting Jax midfielder Rafferty Pedder was named to the USL Championship team of the week, and fullback Tyshawn Rose scored the league’s goal of the week. … Tampa Bay, which is undefeated in league play and leads the USL Championship Eastern Conference with 27 points, defeated Sporting Jax 1-0 in April. … Former Fletcher High School standout Brian Schaefer, the Times-Union’s All-First Coast soccer player of the year in 2020, lines up for the Rowdies in his third professional season.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sporting Club Jacksonville-Tampa Bay Rowdies USL Cup game schedule