A strong comeback by the Tampa Bay Rowdies fell just short Wednesday night, leaving the team playing chase for a playoff spot.
The Rowdies fell to the Indy 11, 3-2. They fell behind 2-0, then got back into the match on Joe Cole’s two goals.
“It’s absolutely devastating (to have lost this match,)” Rowdies coach Stuart Campbell said. “We had them penned in for longer than 30 minutes in that second half and I really thought we were going to go and get the third goal.”
Indy broke on top in the 16th minute on a goal by Duke LaCrois, and Jair Reinoso scored in the 31st minute. Nicki Paterson scored in the 85th minute for the winner.
Cole had a pair of goals negated to offside calls. He would later score two that counted.
“With what was at stake, we didn’t show enough aggression or enough tempo in our play until we were 2-nil down, which is mind-blowing, really,” Campbell said. “That start we had to the first half cost us the game tonight. … We knew what was at stake and we went out there as if we were the team that was set in the playoffs. It’s very, very frustrating.”
The Rowdies trail Minnesota United and Rayo OKC by four in the NASL standings.
Tampa Bay plays its home finale Saturday against the Ottawa Fury FC.
