Return meeting with Aztex will be test for Rowdies

Posted May 18, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated May 18, 2010 at 01:30 PM

The FC Tampa Bay Rowdies travel to meet USL Conference leaders the Austin Aztex on Wednesday night only one game removed from a 2-2 tie between the two teams 11 days prior in the Rowdies’ home opener on August 8.

There shouldn’t be too much carry-over from the first meeting of the season which saw five of yellow cards and a good amount of physical play. But with both sides having played just one other game since their first meeting, the style of play both sides employed that night will still likely be fresh in the minds of both sets of players, with the adjustments each side makes strategically certain to prove important.

“That’s one of the challenges of this league is that you know the teams inside and out,” Rowdies captain Julian Valentin said. “We’ll play them four times this year. We know a little bit what to expect with them, they had a big win this weekend and are top of the table right now, so we know it’s going to be a tough game but if we can put it together we’re hoping we can get a win out of it.”

The Rowdies will have one change to the starting line-up forced on them from Friday night’s 2-1 win against Carolina with Jeremy Christie’s departure for the World Cup. Center back Rob Valentino could get a recall into the side after serving a one-match suspension for his handball against the Aztex in the first meeting of the teams, while goalkeeper Daryl Sattler will be available again after recovering from a triceps injury. 

Should Valentino return it would give a boost to a defense looking for its first shutout since the opening game of the season. With Austin averaging almost two goals per game Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish believes Wednesday night’s game will be a test for his side, but one they can pass. 

“They’re probably as good as any team in the league this year,” Dalglish said. “It’s going to be a good game, it was a close game last time, I thought we finished unbelievably well with 10 men and could have gone on and won it. They’ll be knowing they’re in for a good game this time around and hopefully we can prove them right.”