We’re here live at Pepin Stadium, the schnazzy home of the University of Tampa… and we’ve got the photo to prove it! We’ve got line-ups, we’ve got the internet, and we’ve got two hours of fun in front of us, so keep your finger on that refresh button and join along!

Coach Kreis & Co will throw a mixture of youth & experience to start tonight, with some highlights including the return to competitive play for center back Nat Borchers, rookie draft picks Jean Alexandre & Raphael Cox both getting starts in the midfield, Clint Mathis moving back to the right side of the diamond, and trialists Luis Miguel Escalada & Leonel Saint Preux partnering up top. Also of note, another new face has shown up at RSL camp today, Colombian midfielder Carlos Salazar, who we’ll expect to see get a run in at some point in the evening.

The RSL first XI is as follows:

GK: Kyle Reynish
DEF: Brennan Tennelle (R) - David Horst - Nat Borchers (CAP) - Tony Beltran (L)
MID: Clint Mathis (R) - Jean Alexandre (deep) - Raphael Cox (L) - Alex Nimo (att.)
FWD: Luis Miguel Escalada (L) - Leonel Saint Preux (R)

We’ve even got referees! The man in the middle will be Paul Denton, and he’ll be joined by assistants Mike Miscannon and Emmanuel Darriba.

For the blow-by-blow details, click on through to the other side…

5′ - Nimo finds Escalada on a breakaway, but the Argentine’s solid finish is nullified for offside.

7′ - RSL gets on the board, as a low Mathis corner kick is cleared only as far as the top of the area, where Nimo ran onto it and fired a first-touch rocket that took a deflection but probably would have found the back of the net regardless. RSL 1-0.

8 - Alexandre tries from distance but sees the chance go wide right.

9 - Escalada’s second bid is a solid effort seeking the left post, but a good low save by the Spartans ‘keeper saves the day.

17 - It’s been a possession-fest for the Claret-and-Cobalt, but nothing much doing since the Escalada effort.

22′ - Nimo gets a shot off through traffic, but the bouncer from 25 is handled by the ‘keeper.

26 - A Beltran chance from distance nearly sneaks in, but the ‘keeper again makes a nice save. Beltran’s earning his paycheck tonight ladies, and gents, as he’s flying up and down the left wing.

27 - A minute later Escalada tries to curl one in the far upper right corner, but it misses the mark.

30 - First RSL sub of the night is the previously mentioned Carlos Salazar, entering the match for Raphael Cox.

32 - It’s time for some action by Beltran again, but his chance from long range skips wide left.

33 - The Spartans finally get a quality look with some time to shoot, but a 20-yard effort is sent well high.

34 - Kyle Reynish is pressed into action and answers the call, tipping a free kick shot from just outside the left side of the area over the crossbar. The Spartans live inside the RSL defensive third for the next three minutes, but their only other chance of quality off a corner kick is blocked 8 yards from the goalline.

37 - Salazar lashes a chested down ball by Escalada, but it sails well high of frame.

43 - Alexandre looks to catch the ‘keeper a sleepin’, his shot from 40 yard out having to be parried wide for a corner.

45 - An anxious moment for the Spartans goalkeeper, who pops up a clearance and tries to post up Escalada outside the area. After a couple touches to get away, “Escy” turns and floats a shot that misses the target… although there were two defenders inside the shot by the time it was taken.

The Nimo goal marks the lone tally in the match through 45 minutes. Halftime changes are on tap, and we’ll get them to you once confirmed…

Here’s how RSL will come out for the second half (new additions in bold):

GK: Steve Clark

DEF: Tony Beltran (R) - David Horst - Jamison Olave - Raphael Cox (L)

MID: Brennan Tennelle (R) - Jean Alexandre (deep) - Carlos Salazar (L) - Javier Morales (att.)

FWD: Luis Miguel Escalada (L) - Robbie Findley (R)

In addition, Beltran switches flanks to the right side of the backlineto make way for Cox, who moves back to the left defensive slot. Meanwhile, Tennelle pushes up into the midfield on the right side of the diamond.

47 - RSL applying some pressure in the early moments of the second half, but a corner kick opportunity, a blocked shot from Alexandre and a half-chance from distance by Morales all fail to seriously threaten.

52 - Morales gets free just inside the area but misses the target, and a minute later connects with Robbie Findley to put Esacalada through on goal, but he’s whistled offside (and hit the crossbar on the shot).

56′ Escalada gets through in the left side of the box, but his low shot is turned aside. The rebound bounces out to an onrushing Tennelle, but he clangs the first-touch shot off the crossbar and out of play.

59′ - Escalada’s last touch of the match was his best, as he found a loose bal in the area and lashed a low shot home from about 12 yards out to double the RSL advantage.

60′ - Coach Kreis going with effectively a line change here at the hour mark… we’ll just list the new line-up, with newcomers in bold:

GK: Clark

DEF: Wingert (R) - Horst - Olave - Joy (L)

MID: Williams (R) - Beckerman (deep) - Johnson (L) - Morales

FWD: Movsisyan (L) - Findley (R)

72 ‘ - The RSL midfield and forward corps are starting to link up more consistently, but nothing to show for it in the last dozen minutes. Findley capped a nice build-up with a header that forced a diving save from the ‘keeper.

73 - Morales buys time on the ball in the left side of the area and lays off for Findley, but his shot from 15 smacks off the post.

75 - Williams and Johnson both get opportunities inside the area, but miss the target.

78 - Cox re-enters the match for Morales.

80 - More possession in the final third results in another rebound goal, this one by Will Johnson. The wily young Canadian worked a nice give-and-go at the top of the area before getting off a shot from 16 out that was stopped initially by the Spartans’ netminder. But Johnson stuck with the play, easily cleaning up the rebound to move the score to 3-0 RSL.

84 - This time it’s Yura earning the spoils, as his sure finish off a quick build-up gives RSL a 4-0 cushion (assists by Andy & Wingert).

89′ - More bobbing and weaving by the RSL midfield, resulting in a Beckerman lash sent wide.

Final - And that’ll do it. A solid 4-0 win, marking the fourth shutout in as many exhibition contests for the Claret-and-Cobalt and some good olde fashioned “stick-to-it-iveness” on some rebound goals.

Thanks for following along and stay tuned as we continue our coverage from Florida (which, yes, will include some video from tonight’s game by Thursday!).