Rowdies visit Rochester for critical match

Posted Sep 11, 2010 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated Sep 11, 2010 at 12:32 AM

TAMPA - FC Tampa Bay has had 13 days since coming from behind to earn a 2-2 stoppage time draw against AC St. Louis in its last match. The break has given the Rowdies’ players and coach Paul Dalglish ample time to assess the good and bad that has the team on a current 0-2-5 skid in its last seven matches and battling to stay in the playoff picture.

The break, which included Dalglish giving the team a three-day respite for Labor Day Weekend, also has allowed the team something it desperately needed - time to get healthy mind and body.

“We needed to regroup and assess where we were at,” Dalglish said. “We needed to realize our playoff hopes are in our hands; anyway you look at it our destiny is in our own hands.”

Tonight, FC Tampa Bay (6-9-10) faces Rochester (14-6-6) at 7 p.m. at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. as the Rowdies take on a Rhinos team ranked third in the United States Soccer Federation Division-2 overall standings and second in the USL Conference. The Rowdies are currently in ninth position overall, tied at 28 points with NSC Minnesota, but the Stars hold a 2-1 head-to-head win advantage against Tampa Bay and are in the eighth and final playoff spot.

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