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Rowdies get a point with 1-1 draw against Cincinnati on the road

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It’s a hard sport in which to score. Still, one goal will win only so often in the United Soccer League.

For the fourth time in five games, the Rowdies scored only one goal Wednesday night, and the team had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the home standing FC Cincinnati FC.

This time, Marcel Schaffer scored in the seventh minute for the Rowdies. Harrison Delbridge evened the game on a header in the 36th minute.

“We started off the game great with Marcel’s goal,” said Rowdies’ coach Stuart Campbell. “Despite not being able to get the three points, I think the draw is a positive result, especially against a tough team like Cincinnati. Now we have to turn the page and work on getting a win on Saturday at home.”

FCC almost scored in the 20th minute, but goalkeeper Matt Pickens made a nice save.

“I had a perfect angle with my left foot, so I decided to take a chance,” said Schafer. “Luckily it went as planned and I scored my first goal with the Rowdies. Despite the goal, I am disappointed we couldn’t get the three points, but I still think it’s a good result on the road.”

The Rowdies kept Djiby Falls, the USL’s leading scorer, without a point as Neill Collins and Damion Lowe did a nice job on him. Collins was named player of the match by USL.com.

With three games in a week, Rowdies’ coach Campbell didn’t play either Joe Cole (until the 80th minute) or Georgi Hristov (until the 65th).

“I felt that after our goal, we stopped playing the way we know how to play and that cost us,” Campbell said. “We defended well when they put the pressure on us, which is a positive takeaway.”

Tampa Bay had a chance after Cincinnati went down a man with 15 minutes to play, but they were unable to finish.

The Rowdies now return home to face Charleston Battery on Saturday, April 22.

Gary Shelton is one of the most recognized and honored sportswriters in the history of the state. He has won the APSE's national columnist of the year twice and finished in the top 10 eight times. He was named the Florida Sportswriter of the Year six times. Gary joined SaintPetersBlog in the spring, helping to bring a sports presence to the website. Over his time in sports writing, Gary has covered 29 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, Final Fours, Masters, Wimbledons and college national championships. He was there when the Bucs won a Super Bowl, when the Lightning won a Stanley Cup and when the Rays went to a World Series. He has seen Florida, FSU and Miami all win national championships, and he covered Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and Don Shula along the way. He and his wife Janet have four children: Eric, Kevin, K.C. and Tori. To contact, visit [email protected]

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