The sting of this one is going to last for a while.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies dropped a 3-2 game to the New York Cosmos, with David Diosa scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.
“I’m devastated,” said coach Stuart Campbell. “I’m devastated for the players, coaches, and everyone associated with the Rowdies organization. We played a good match and came away with nothing. We have a midweek game that will help us move forward and get past this loss.”
The Rowdies, who have only won two of eight games in the second half of the season, held a 2-0 lead at one point, but the Cosmos tied the game on two penalty shots by Adam Moffat in the 39th and 64th minute.
The Rowdies had gone in front on goals by Joe Cole in the 11th minute and PC in the 14th, but could not hold.
Moffat and Darnell King were ejected in the 68th minute.
The Rowdies got off to a flying start, scoring two goals in a three minute span to give the visiting team a 2-0 lead just 14 minutes into the match.
The Rowdies goal came right after the Cosmos were just inches away from opening the scoring. Goalkeeper Matt Pickens was able to pounce on a free ball inside the 6-yard box and start the counter attack for the Rowdies. Moments before the clock hit the 12th minute, PC reached the end line and whipped a ball to the far post, finding an oncoming Cole who slotted the ball into the net. With the goal, Cole now has five goals and four assists in 11 league matches.
After picking up his first assist with the club, it wouldn’t be long before Brazilian midfielder PC would get his first goal for Tampa Bay.
The Rowdies play at Minnesota United on Wednesday night, then return home Saturday to play FC Edmonton.
