The Tampa Bay Rowdies fell one point out of the playoff race Sunday afternoon, dropping to fifth with a 1-0 loss to Edmonton.
The loss ended a seven-game unbeaten streak for the Rowdies. Ben Fisk scored the only goal of the game in snowy conditions.
The Rowdies had close-in attempts from Tommy Heinemann and Keith Savage but could not score.
āWe had two or three really good scoring opportunities in the first half,ā Rowdies coach Stuart Campbell said. āIf we take one of them and score, itās a completely different game. Unfortunately, we couldnāt. Goals change games and we didnāt score any. We canāt keep relying on our defenders to keep clean sheets to give us a chance to win. We need to start putting the ball in the back of the net more regularly.ā
The Rowdies had a chance to equalize in the 26th minute, when Georgi Hristov played Heinemann in on goal with a silky through ball, but Heinemannās first-time shot from a sharp angle at the near post missed wide.
Tampa Bay could have equalized in added time in the first half when a lucky bounce popped the ball to the feet of Keith Savage six yards from goal, but Savageās left-footed shot across the goal went wide.
The second half was much more even, with both teams looking threatening, but not putting enough shots on target to worry the opposing goalkeeper.
As time slipped away, the Rowdies got desperate and nearly found a stoppage time equalizer for the second time in two matches with Joe Cole getting on the end of a long PC lob into the box from the Rowdiesā half, but Cole couldnāt quite redirect the shot toward goal.
It was a difficult afternoon for the Rowdies, with a temperature of 32 degrees at kickoff and dropping. The first half was marked by significant snowfall and gusty winds blowing into the face of Pickens. Conditions were milder in the second half, a natural advantage for the Eddies.
The Rowdies now have 36 points, one behind Minnesota FC.
Seven teams now have between 30 and 38 points.
Tampa Bay now returns to Florida for the remainder of the regular season, visiting Miami FC on Friday, October 14 before returning home to host the Indy Eleven and Ottawa Fury FC next week before wrapping up the regular season in Jacksonville on Halloween weekend.
