TAMPA, Fla – Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Sebastian Guenzatti has been named September USL Championship Player of the Month.
The former Cosmos midfielder won 62 percent of the vote after a remarkable month in which he scored seven goals and two assists in five games. The accomplishments helped the rowdies have a perfect month with five out of five wins en route to their third straight trip to the USL Championship Playoffs and the Atlantic Division title in early October.
Rowdies captain Guenzatti has been one of the league’s standout strikers for the past three seasons and recently scored 50 regular season goals in the championship for his career. Its resurgence in September came after notably not hitting the net a single time in August, a rarity for a player whose consistency in front of goal was a key element of Tampa Bay’s success, including winning the Eastern Conference title before one Season.
The lack of goals was not a problem for the Montevideo, Uruguay-born veteran who grew up in Queens, NY after his family moved to the United States at the age of 12, beating his first game in September – a 3-0 win Oakland Roots SC – the dam broke.
“Scoring the first goal was definitely a load off my shoulders but I was calm,” said Guenzatti. “I knew it was coming. It happens to strikers that you stay without goals for a while, but I knew as soon as I got in the first one, the others would start. “
As impressive as Guenzatti’s goalscorer numbers were – by Wednesday evening no player had scored more regular goals this season than Guenzatti’s 45 since the start of the 2019 season in the championship – the rate of work that brings him to the position as first goalscorer defensive and in his hold-up game made him a really round player.
“He’s so highly regarded with us, but outside he may be underrated sometimes,” said Rowdies head coach Neill Collins. “If you look at your goal balance, that speaks for itself. For me the previous month when he didn’t score was nothing to worry about because I know Seba will keep doing what he does and the goals will come. I think besides his goals, his performances were fantastic, as were the team’s. He’s raised his level over the past few months and it’s great to see he’s getting recognition. “
The rowdies are within reach to hit the top record in the championship, four games to go in the regular season, and are a narrow lead over Phoenix Rising FC and El Paso Locomotive FC in terms of the maximum points available the Team can collect. The club could also set a new season record for home wins if they beat New York Red Bulls II in their last two games on Friday and state rivals Miami FC next Wednesday, which would earn the team 14 points from 16 game wins at Al Lang Stadium.
The opportunity to lead the way to the USL Championship Finals through Al Lang Stadium as the rowdies try to defend their Eastern Conference crown and claim the second league title of their modern day is a great one for Guenzatti and his teammates.
“These top seeds are very important,” said Guenzatti. “We really want to play the entire playoffs and even the final at Al Lang. It will be a dream for us, the fans and the entire organization. You worked very hard. Last year we didn’t get the chance to play at home due to COVID, but now I know that if we make every effort and we all work together and we play at home, we will have a great time. ”
Guenzatti received 62 percent of a weighted poll that included the USL Championship Technical Committee, a national body of independent media representing all USL markets, and an online fan vote on USLChampionship.com. Miami FC’s Christiano Francois finished second on 16 percent after scoring five goals in five games, while Phoenix Rising FC’s Santi Moar finished third after scoring five goals in six games, including two game winners for the Pacific Division title winner.
USL Championship Player of the Month – September 2021
candidate | Fan voting | Weight | Media vote | Weight | USL voting | Weight | Overall voice |
Sebastian Guenzatti (TBR) | 36% | 18% | 77% | 18% | 100% | 25% | 62% |
Christiano Francois (MIA) | 32% | 16% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 16% |
Santi Moar (PHX) | 9% | 5% | 23% | 6% | 0% | 0% | 10% |
Cameron Lancaster (LOU) | 16% | 8th% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 8th% |
Aodhan Quinn (PHX) | 7% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4% |
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