News

The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Ottawa Fury FC
Saturday, October 22, 2016, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Follow us for live updates on Twitter @RowdiesGameday

How to Watch
Local TV: Bright House Sports Network
National TV: beIN Sports en Español
Stream: beIN Sports Connect

Tickets
Tickets are available by calling (727) 222-2000 until 1 p.m. on gameday or by visiting the Al Lang Stadium box office. They’re available 24/7 with no ticketing fees on Ticketmaster here.

Parking
The Al Lang Stadium parking lot opens around 2:30 p.m. Parking in the main stadium lot is $5 per car. For more parking options, click here.

Records (W-T-L)
Tampa Bay: 5-7-8, 22 points, 9th place, Fall Season; 9-11-10, 38 points, 6th place, Combined Standings
Ottawa Fury FC: 5-6-9, 21 points, 10th place, Fall Season; 7-9-14, 30 points, 10th place, Combined Standings

The Championship Chase
Tampa Bay badly needs a win to stay in the race for The Championship. Tampa Bay is three points behind Minnesota United FC and Rayo OKC for fourth place in the Combined Standings. Minnesota United visits the Carolina RailHawks on Saturday night, while Rayo OKC visits the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Series History
Matches between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC are traditionally very even, with draws by far the most common result by far. Tampa Bay has a 2-4-2 (W-T-L) record all-time against Ottawa all-time. The teams have split their two meetings this season, with the home team winning both games. Tampa Bay beat Ottawa 2-1 in
St. Pete on June 4 and lost 2-0 in Ottawa on July 30.

Rowdies Notes
Joe Cole’s two goals in Wednesday night’s loss to the Indy Eleven made him the Rowdies’ leading points-scorer this season with 25 points off nine goals and seven assists. Georgi Hristov is just behind with 24 points via 10 goals and four assists.

PC is eligible for selection Saturday night after serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation Wednesday night. PC had started seven consecutive games at left back prior to his suspension.

Scouting Ottawa
Ottawa enters this match winless in its last four matches, including three losses in that period. The Fury FC lost 3-1 to Rayo OKC last weekend despite taking an early lead on a goal scored by Giuseppe Gentile. Ottawa then went on to concede three goals to lose.

Carl Haworth leads Ottawa in scoring with seven goals this season, ahead of Gentile and Ryan Williams, who have scored four goals apiece. 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (October 20, 2016) — Only two weekends remain in the North American Soccer League and the Rowdies risk elimination from postseason contention if they fail to beat the Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Ottawa Fury FC
Saturday, October 22, 7:30 p.m. ET – Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Local TV: Bright House Sports Network
National TV: beIN Sports en Español
Stream: beIN Sports Connect
Tampa Bay suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Indy Eleven on Wednesday night in a dramatic game. Tampa Bay trailed 2-0 at halftime, but Joe Cole led a heroic comeback to level the match at 2-2. The Rowdies looked likely to score a go-ahead goal for a long time, but were beaten by Nicki Paterson’s 85th minute dagger.

The Ottawa Fury has already been eliminated from postseason contention and is coming off a 3-1 loss in Oklahoma to Rayo OKC last weekend.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Rayo OKC
Saturday, October 22, 7 p.m. ET – Central Broward Park, Lauderhill, Fla.
Stream: ESPN3
Fort Lauderdale is desperate for a win to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Strikers are even on points with the Rowdies — three points behind Minnesota United FC and Rayo OKC. Fort Lauderdale beat Puerto Rico FC 2-0 last weekend.

Rayo OKC is in a strong position to reach the playoffs in its first season, tied on points with Minnesota United for fourth place in the NASL Combined Standings. OKC beat Ottawa 3-1 at home last weekend.

New York Cosmos vs. Miami FC
Saturday, October 22, 7 p.m. ET – James M. Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, N.Y.
Stream: ESPN3
The Cosmos have already won the NASL Fall Season and will hope to keep its positive run of form going into November and The Championship, the NASL’s four-team playoffs. New York beat Jacksonville 4-2 last weekend to clinch the Fall Season.

Miami FC will be on short rest and shorthanded heading into New York this weekend. Gabriel Farfan (yellow card accumulation) and Kwadwo Poku (red card) are both suspended from this match. Miami is four points out of the postseason picture and badly needs a win.

Carolina RailHawks vs. Minnesota United FC
Saturday, October 22, 7:30 p.m. ET – WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, N.C.
Stream: ESPN3
Carolina is four points out of the postseason picture heading into this crucial showdown with the Loons. Rowdies fans will hope for a RailHawks win or a draw, allowing Tampa Bay to close the points gap with a win over Ottawa.

Minnesota United remains in a tight fight for the fourth and final postseason berth, but the Loons have the advantage of controlling the tiebreakers should multiple teams finish level on points. Minnesota United beat FC Edmonton 3-1 last weekend.

Indy Eleven vs. Puerto Rico FC
Saturday, October 22, 7:30 p.m. ET – Michael A. Carroll Stadium, Indianapolis
Stream: ESPN3
Indy will be on short rest following its 3-2 win over the Rowdies in St. Pete on Wednesday night. The Eleven has been unbeatable at home this season and would equal the NASL record with an 18-game home unbeaten streak with a draw or win.

Puerto Rico has grown into the Fall Season, but will not participate in The Championship. PRFC was beaten 2-0 in Fort Lauderdale last weekend.

FC Edmonton vs. Jacksonville Armada FC
Sunday, October 23, 4 p.m. ET – Clarke Field, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Stream: ESPN3
FC Edmonton’s postseason berth is already booked, with the Eddies traveling to Indy in the semifinals. Edmonton will just want to avoid injuries and head into the playoff with a bit of positive momentum.

Jacksonville beat Miami FC 3-2 on Wednesday night to provide a little boost ahead of the Armada’s trip north to Edmonton.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (October 20, 2016) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-2 loss to the Indy Eleven on Wednesday night felt like a punch to the gut. After trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Rowdies, led by Joe Cole, came back to tie the match with 20-plus minutes still to play. While pushing as hard as possible for an equalizer, the Rowdies were beaten by a dagger of a goal from Indy’s Nicki Paterson in the 85th minute.

Thankfully, not all hope is lost. The Rowdies need help in their quest to qualify for the postseason, but it is still possible.

1. A legendary performance from Joe Cole
Joe Cole scored both of Tampa Bay’s goals Wednesday night, his eighth and ninth of the season. When the Rowdies had their backs against the wall, Cole stood up to the task, scoring in the 53rd and 68th minutes to pull the Rowdies back into the game.

His first finish was a poachers’ goal, pouncing on a rebound after Indy Eleven goalkeeper Keith Cardona had saved a Georgi Hristov shot.

His second finish was simply sublime, a perfectly-placed laser into the upper corner of the net, leaving Indy goalkeeper Keith Cardona no chance of making the save.

Cole also scored a pair of goals in the first half, but both were called off due to offside. The second was clearly offside, the first was a much tighter decision.

2. Killed by a bad start
The Rowdies have made a habit lately of starting slow and that must be improved in the two matches remaining this season. In Miami last Friday night and again against Indy last night, the Rowdies conceded two goals within 16 minutes of each other to fall behind 2-0. Miami’s first goal came in the 16th minute and Indy’s came in the 15th.

There’s a lot to like about how the Rowdies have responded to their 2-0 deficits, coming back to equalize the match both times, but, ideally, the Rowdies will have a stronger start Saturday night against the Ottawa Fury FC.

“The first 30 minutes of the game weren’t good enough,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “With what was at stake, we didn’t show enough aggression or enough tempo in our play until we went 2-nil down and then it seemed to wake us up. … The start to the first half is what’s cost us the game.”

3. When men and mountains meet
Lining the walls of the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ locker room are a number of quotes in large block letters on the walls. One of those quotes, from English poet William Blake, seems particularly apropos to the situation the Rowdies currently face.

“Great things are done when men and mountains meet.” – William Blake

The Rowdies are facing a mountain in their attempt to qualify for The Championship, the NASL’s four-team playoffs, but not all hope is lost. Tampa Bay trails both Minnesota United FC and Rayo OKC by three points in the NASL Combined Standings with two matches left, but with six points still on offer, the Rowdies can surge past those teams and sneak into the playoffs.

The next two matches will be a test of how great the Rowdies can be. The past two games have shown how well the Rowdies can turn it on when they’re backed into a corner and now they’re playing for their season.

The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Indy Eleven
Wednesday, October 19, 2016, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Follow us for live updates on Twitter @RowdiesGameday

How to Watch
Local TV: Bright House Sports Network
National TV: ONE World Sports
Stream: ONEWorldSports.com

Tickets
Tickets are available by calling (727) 222-2000 until 1 p.m. on gameday or by visiting the Al Lang Stadium box office. They’re available 24/7 with no ticketing fees on Ticketmaster here.

Happy Hour
While supplies last, $10 tickets anywhere in the main stadium bowl are available by calling (727) 222-2000. Make sure to get into the stadium early to enjoy $2 hot dogs and $2 beers from when gates open at 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. during a weekday Happy Hour.

Parking
Parking at the Al Lang Stadium main lot, Lot A, will be on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday night, due to the volume of cars in the lot of weekdays. For other parking options, click here.

Records (W-T-L)
Tampa Bay: 5-7-7, 22 points, 9th place, Fall Season; 9-11-9, 38 points, 6th place, Combined Standings
Indy Eleven: 9-4-6, 31 points, 3rd place, Fall Season; 13-10-6, 49 points, 3rd place, Combined Standings

The Championship Chase
Tampa Bay is in a tightly-contested race for the fourth and final spot in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team playoffs. Coming into the match, the Rowdies trail both Minnesota United FC and Rayo OKC by three points, having played one fewer game. The Rowdies are level on points with Fort Lauderdale and one point ahead of both Miami FC and Carolina.

Series History
Tampa Bay is 1-6-1 (W-T-L) against Indy all-time, meaning matches between the sides are always close. The Rowdies and Indy have met twice this season, a 0-0 draw in St. Pete on opening day and a 1-1 draw in Indy on September 3.

The Rowdies’ lone win against Indy came on July 9, 2014 in Indianapolis, a 2-1 win with Georgi Hristov scoring the winner in the 89th minute.

Rowdies Notes
Georgi Hristov continues to lead the way offensively for the Rowdies, netting his 10th goal of the season in last weekend’s 2-2 draw in Miami. Hristov has now scored five goals in Tampa Bay’s last five matches.

Tampa Bay will be without PC, who has started the last seven matches at left back. Prior to that, PC had started five-straight games as a forward. PC is unavailable while serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation. He is eligible to return Saturday when the Rowdies take on Ottawa Fury FC.

Last week, Juan Guerra became the 11th different Rowdies player to score a goal this season. Indy leads the NASL in unique goalscorers with 13 players scoring at least one NASL goal this year. FC Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale and Puerto Rico FC have the fewest goalscorers in the league with each apiece. Tampa Bay’s 11 is the same number as Miami FC and New York.

Scouting Indy
Indy arrives in St. Petersburg coming off a 3-0 home win over the Carolina RailHawks last weekend. The Eleven has been one of the best teams in the NASL at home this season, posting a 12-3-0 (W-T-L) record in Indianapolis, but hasn’t done as well on the road this year, posting a 1-7-6 record away from home. Indy is winless in seven trips to Florida this season, drawing five times and losing twice.

The Eleven will be without forward Souleymane Youla this week while he serves a one-game suspension after being shown a red card late in the win against the RailHawks. Youla scored a goal in the match before being dismissed.

Indy’s playoff path is also secured, with the Spring Season Champions hosting FC Edmonton on Sunday, November 5 in The Championship Semifinals. Indy won the Spring Season in dramatic fashion on the final day and will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed regardless of how it finishes the regular season.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (October 18, 2016) — With just three games to go in the North American Soccer League regular season, Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Georgi Hristov knows how small the margin for error is.

The Rowdies trail Minnesota United FC and Rayo OKC by three points in the Combined Standings, but have the benefit of a game in hand. Should the Rowdies win that match — which will be played at home Wednesday night against the Indy Eleven — it would force a three-way tie for fourth place and the final spot in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team playoffs.

Hristov isn’t shy about the pressure the Rowdies face and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think pressure can only make you a better player,” Hristov said. “When you’re under pressure, you rely more on your instincts and that makes you much better. I’ve had games where I felt relaxed with no pressure and I’ve not played well. I’m positive the best games I’ve ever played were when I was under the most pressure.”

If the Rowdies are to secure a playoff berth in the coming weeks, Hristov is likely to play a huge role in getting Tampa Bay across the line.

The 31-year old Bulgarian has been at the center of the Rowdies’ attack since joining Tampa Bay ahead of the 2013 NASL season. In his nearly-four seasons with the club, he’s established himself as one of the most dangerous attackers in the league.

With 33 NASL goals to his name, he sits fourth all-time in the league record books as a scorer. He’s the modern NASL’s all-time assist leader with 25 assists. He’s played in 104 NASL games, meaning he either scores or records an assist in more than half of his appearances. Add in his four U.S. Open Cup goals and Hristov’s 37 goals are the most in modern Rowdies history, ahead of Mike Ambersley’s 22.

“As forwards, we’re the players that people talk about most because we score the goals, but we can’t do anything without our teammates,” Hristov said. “Every goal is a credit to the entire team and the club itself, not just the player that scored it. I really appreciate what the club has done for me and my teammates. I feel happy, but I just have to keep working even harder than before.”

Hristov’s 10 goals this season lead the Rowdies. He’s scored five goals in his last five appearances, including notching the first hat trick in modern Rowdies history in a 4-1 road win over the rival Fort Lauderdale Strikers on September 24.

He’s on pace to finish the season as the Rowdies’ leading scorer for the third time in his four seasons with the club. After a down year in 2015, when he scored only two goals, Hristov has shown resiliency to bounce back strong this season.

“A lot of credit goes to the coaches,” Hristov said. “You can only play well if the coaching staff understands your natural strengths and puts you in the right positions. I’m very thankful that (Coach Campbell) trusts me and gives me freedom to play how I play.”

Hristov is one of just two Rowdies to feature in every match this year, starting 22 of his 29 league games this season. Twelve of his 22 starts have been as a central striker, but even when he’s deployed in a wide position, Hristov tends to find a path to goal. Five of his goals this year have been scored when he played as a central striker, four have been from a wide left position and one has come off the bench.

“It takes a lot of dedication on and off the field (to be consistent,)” Hristov said. “It’s all about the stuff people don’t see: proper eating, sleeping, making sure you rest enough. Our whole team is really good about that, but it’s not easy, especially when you have two kids like me. I’m very happy that I’ve been able to stay healthy because of course that’s important, too.”

Tampa Bay’s massive match against the Indy Eleven kicks off Wednesday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. Arrive early to take advantage of $2 hot dog and $2 beer specials during Happy Hour from 6 to 7:30. Tickets are available by calling (727) 222-2000 or by clicking here.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (October 17, 2016) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Danny Mwanga made another appearance for the Ottawa Fury FC this weekend, his seventh since joining the Fury on loan this summer.

Danny Mwanga – Ottawa Fury FC: Mwanga came off the bench late in Ottawa’s 3-1 loss to Rayo OKC in Oklahoma on Sunday night. In his limited minutes, Mwanga tallied six touches, but did not take a shot.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (October 17, 2016) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ epic comeback in Miami kept the Rowdies within touching distance of the playoffs with just two weeks to go in the regular season. Weekend wins by Minnesota United FC and Rayo OKC moved those teams three points ahead of the Rowdies in the Combined Standings, but the Rowdies can make it a three-way tie with a win Wednesday night against the Indy Eleven.

Miami FC 2 – 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies
Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium, Miami
Jaime Chavez scored a Goal of the Year candidate on the Rowdies in the first half, volleying a rocket past Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Kwadwo Poku doubled the lead soon after, but the Rowdies fought back for a vital point with goals from Georgi Hristov and Juan Guerra.

Minnesota United FC 3 – 1 FC Edmonton
NSC Stadium, Blaine, Minn.
Albert Watson put the Eddies up 1-0 on the road in Minnesota, but a pair of goals from Christian Ramirez erased the deficit and Stefano Pinho added another goal late to seal the points.

Rayo OKC 3 – 1 Ottawa Fury FC
Miller Stadium, Yukon, Okla.
Giuseppe Gentile gave the visitors a lead in the 28th minute, but Michel equalized in the 36th minute. Billy Forbes put OKC ahead just after the hour mark and Michel added another late to finish off the win.

Jacksonville Armada FC 2 – 4 New York Cosmos
Community First Park, Jacksonville, Fla.
After the Cosmos held a halftime lead, the Armada rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute. In the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time, Jacksonville had Alhassane Keita sent off and conceded three goals. New York clinched the Fall Season this weekend.

Indy Eleven 3 – 0 Carolina RailHawks
Michael A. Carroll Stadium, Indianapolis
Justin Braun scored with one of the final kicks of the first half and the Eleven cruised to another home win with goals from Nicki Paterson and Souleymane Youla in the second half. Youla was shown a red card late in the match and is suspended for Wednesday’s match against the Rowdies.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2 – 0 Puerto Rico FC
Central Broward Park, Lauderhill, Fla.
Geison Moura and Jose Angulo scored goals late as the Strikers picked up an important home win over visiting PRFC.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (October 15, 2016) — A loss in Miami on Saturday night would’ve put a major dent in the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ playoff aspirations. With the table so tight and so few matches remaining, each result carries so much weight. After 21 minutes of the Rowdies’ match against Miami FC, things didn’t look good.

The Rowdies had fallen behind 2-0 to a Goal of the Year candidate from Jaime Chavez and a Kwadwo Poku goal, but Tampa Bay didn’t give up. The Rowdies dug their heels in and salvaged a result that allows them to fight another day.

Now, a closer look at the match.

1. Avoiding defeat
While the Rowdies have maybe been guilty of drawing too many matches, rather than winning, they’ve done enough to remain in the postseason race with just three games to go. Perhaps the Rowdies’ best quality in recent months is how hard they work to avoid defeat.

Tampa Bay has lost just once since August 21, nearly two months ago. Tampa Bay’s last two losses, both by 1-0 scores to FC Edmonton, were on August 20 and October 9. By the time the Rowdies’ next match kicks off on Wednesday, October 19, the August 20 loss will be nearly two months old.

The Rowdies haven’t lost to a team below them in the NASL Combined Standings since July 30, 13 matches ago, nearly half a season.

The Rowdies need to qualify for the postseason first, but such great commitment to avoiding defeat could come quite handy in November.

2. Coastal Cup winners
In addition to all the playoff implications on the table, the Rowdies had a chance to pick up some silverware Saturday night.

Tampa Bay entered the match needing just a point or better to clinch the 2016 Coastal Cup, which it earned with the 2-2 draw.

The Coastal Cup is contested annually by Florida’s NASL sides, meaning it was a four-way competition this season between the Rowdies, Miami FC, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Jacksonville Armada. With 14 points won against Florida sides in eight matches so far this year, the Rowdies have won their first Coastal Cup since 2013.

The Rowdies won it every year from 2010-2013, but the Strikers won it back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015 before Tampa Bay reclaimed it last night.

3. Hristov and Guerra on the scoresheet
Georgi Hristov and Juan Guerra scored the Rowdies’ goals Saturday night, with Hristov nodding a header home in the 27th minute and Guerra finishing from the top of the box in the 66th for his first goal of the season.

Hristov’s glancing header was his 10th goal of the season, making him the first Rowdies players to score double-digits goals since 2013, when he scored 12 goals and Luke Mulholland scored 11. He’s currently on pace to lead the Rowdies in scoring for the third time in four seasons since his arrival in Tampa Bay.

Guerra’s finish was his first goal of the season and third since joining the Rowdies last season.

It was a classy finish assisted by Joe Cole and a crucial goal in the Rowdies’ season.