Sebastian Guenzatti gets one past the Bethlehem Steel in the 80th minute./STEVEN MUNCIE
Sunday, 1:30 a.m.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies will have to wait for their playoff berth.
The Rowdies could have clinched a spot with a win on Saturday night, but instead tied Bethlehem Steel. Tampa Bay remains in fourth place going into Wednesday night's finale against the New York Red Bulls II.
The Rowdies fell behind 1-0 in the 56th minute of play, but came back to tie in the 80th minute when Sebastian Guenzatti scored.
Content beyond this point is for members only.
Already a member? To view the rest of this column, sign in using the handy "Sign In" button located in the upper right corner of the GarySheltonSports.com blog (it's at the far right of the navigation bar under Gary's photo)!
Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.
Coach Stuart Campbell has his team on the brink of the post-season./STEVEN MUNCIE
"I felt there was only one team trying to win the game tonight,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “We were pressing and pressing and pressing and just couldn’t get that second goal. We made hard work it conceding early in the second half.”
Alex Morrell takes a shot./STEVEN MUNCIE
With another point in hand, the Rowdies remain in fourth place, one point behind the Charleston Battery in third and two points behind the Charlotte Independence in second. Tampa Bay has a game in hand over Charlotte and will have one over the Battery after it plays in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon.
In the 56th minute, with the match still scoreless, Bethlehem won a free kick in its own half and passed the ball around for nearly 30 seconds before launching forward, with James Chambers feeding Conneh for the go-ahead goal from outside the box.
It was Bethlehem’s only shot on target all night.
“I can’t think of any other chances they really had on goal,” Campbell said. “The first one they had, they took, and it made it a little bit more difficult for us.”
Darnell King reacts after hearing the whistle./STEVEN MUNCIE
Guenzatti got his first goal with the Rowdies in the 80th minute, off a scramble after a free kick. Darnell King retrieved a Bethlehem clearance and produced a nifty chip that Guenzatti settled on the bounce. He sent the ball with his right foot past Steel goalkeeper Jake McGuire.
“I’m always ready when the coach needs me,” Guenzatti said. “As a starter or a sub, you’ve always got to be ready. The ball came to me and the only thing I could do was put it in the goal and it felt really good. It was a great pass from Darnell.”
Neither team created a great chance to win the match in the final minutes of the game.
The Rowdies attempt to clinch Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. game at Al Lang.
Neill Collins tries to score for Rowdies./STEVEN MUNCIE
{ 0 comments… read it below or Subscriptions }