The Rowdies faced Miami FC in a crucial match that could have put the team in in the coveted fourth-place position. They led by a goal, thanks to a mouth-watering strike by Eric Avila, but the boys found themselves sharing the points with Miami after the visitors tied the match in the second half.
“It was a tough draw and I was very disappointed with a point against Miami,” coach Stuart Campbell said after the game. “I felt we did enough to win the game tonight. Obviously you could sense it was a big game. The atmosphere about the place, you could sense the anticipation.”
Nearly 7,000 fans came out to support the team and Ralph’s Mob was there in full force, creating what could be described as a smoking atmosphere.
The match started with a green and yellow cloud lingering over the field from an intense display of pyrotechnics that included more smoke bombs than you could count. The crowd displayed a banner: “Where smoke rises, passion thrives."
But passionate fan displays couldn't help get a victory. A win would have lifted the Rowdies into fourth place; after a late match-winning goal from Jacksonville in Minnesota, the Rowdies would have overtaken the northern club for the fourth-place spot. But as fate would have it, a draw from Tampa Bay and a loss for Minnesota left the two teams tied, putting even more pressure on the two teams meeting with each other on Oct. 15.
It’s a quick turnaround, but the Rowdies will be right back at it for a midweek match against a tough Minnesota team who stands in their way to the playoffs.
“It’s good; I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Campbell said about the quick turnaround.
The Rowdies need to have short-term memory loss to forget about this one and focus on what’s ahead.
“We’re back in training tomorrow [Sunday], so after that, this match is gone,” Campbell said. “We can’t change this result tonight, but we’re disappointed because we wanted to win.”
Both teams will face each other at Al Lang with only four days to prepare. Every win will make a difference and every loss will further distance the teams from glory. Also, beers will cost only $2 at the stadium until kick off on Wednesday night. So if the drama isn’t enough for you, at least take advantage of downtown’s best happy hour.
This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 7, 2016.