Hristov and the Rowdies Down Ottawa Fury FC 2-1 to Stay Alive in Spring Race
June 4, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
Georgi Hristov of the Tampa Bay Rowdies
(Tampa Bay Rowdies)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It was a good week to be Georgi Hristov.
And as Georgi Hristov went this week, so went the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Hristov scored two for the Rowdies to lift his team to a 2-1 win over Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium to keep the Rowdies alive in the race for the Spring Season title and an automatic berth in The Championship, the NASL's four-team playoffs. He also scored the only goal of Wednesday night's win over FC Cincinnati in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Hristov's first against Ottawa was a delightful chip over Fury FC goalkeeper Romuald Peiser in the 20th minute and the game-winning goal was a tidy finish after Joe Cole dribbled by most of Ottawa to set him up.
"It feels great (to be on this kind of run,)" Hristov said as the Rowdies earned their third win in eight days. "It's tough to play three games in one week and we won all of them. I have to say that the whole team, all of the guys, have been working really, really hard. They work so hard and this win is for all of us."
With the win, the Rowdies moved to 15 points in the Spring Season with one game remaining. The New York Cosmos (18 points) had a chance to clinch the Spring with a win in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, but lost 2-1, opening the door for a handful of teams. Tampa Bay, Indy and Fort Lauderdale are all tied on 15 points going into the final weekend, pending Minnesota's result in Oklahoma City tonight.
Hristov's first goal gave the Rowdies a halftime lead and extended Tampa Bay's streak of scoring in the first half to four-straight matches.
Soon after halftime, in the 49th minute, Ottawa leveled in the match through Carl Haworth on an unlucky passage of play for the Rowdies. A shot from Mauro Eustaquio was blocked by Juan Guerra, but the ball ran to Haworth in open space for a shot past Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
The Rowdies' response, though, was worthy of the full three points.
Rowdies midfielder Joe Cole deserves a ton of credit for Hristov's gamewinner just three minutes later. Cole dribbled through a handful of Fury FC defenders and drew in even more before spring Hristov in on goal with a lengthy through ball. Hristov took a touch and then finished with the outside of his right foot to put the Rowdies ahead 2-1.
"It was the perfect response," Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. "We spoke at halftime about going out as if the score was 0-0 because I thought the next goal would be huge. When they scored, I was frustrated because of the manner of it. For a split second, I thought, 'Oh boy, here we go again at home,' but thankfully the guys gave a great response and got a goal pretty much straightaway."
Tampa Bay could've extended its lead in the 60th minute when Cole took a shot that was blocked from going to goal by the hand of Ottawa right back Lance Rozeboom. Hristov could've had a penalty kick for a hat trick, but appeals for handball for denied.
The Rowdies cranked into high gear from there, peppering crosses through Ottawa's box and forcing Peiser to make three saves to keep the Rowdies from scoring a third.
Ultimately, a third goal wouldn't be required.
Pickens needed to make just one save on the night as the Rowdies picked up their third win of the week.
"It's been good," Campbell said. "I've said it all season. The guys come in day in and day out and the attitude and application from the guys has been superb. We haven't quite had a couple calls go our way. If we had them, we'd be right up there. Credit to the guys because they haven't been disappointed, they've been frustrated and they come every day to set things right."
The Rowdies head to Jacksonville to play the Jacksonville Armada FC next weekend with a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday afternoon at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Images from this story
 Georgi Hristov of the Tampa Bay Rowdies |
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North American Soccer League Stories from June 4, 2016
- Carolina Draws with Jacksonville Armada FC 0-0 at Home - North Carolina FC
- NASL Spring Season Championship Race to be Decided in Final Week - NASL
- Armada Notches First Shutout in Scoreless Draw at RailHawks - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Minnesota United Falls 1-0 on the Road - Minnesota United FC
- Hristov and the Rowdies Down Ottawa Fury FC 2-1 to Stay Alive in Spring Race - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Cosmos Comeback Falls Short in Spring Finale - New York Cosmos
- Fury FC Edged 2-1 by Tampa Bay Rowdies - Ottawa Fury FC
- The Miami FC Draws Even With Indy, Secures Third-Straght Shutout - Miami FC
- Strikers Earn First-Ever Win against First-Place NY Cosmos - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- FC Edmonton Announces Loan of Defender Mallan Roberts to Ottawa Fury FC - FC Edmonton
- Canadian Defender Mallan Roberts Joins Fury FC on Loan - Ottawa Fury FC
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