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NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies

Extra-Time Winner Lifts Rowdies Past Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 3-2

May 24, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Blake Wagner scored a dramatic extra-time winner as the Tampa Bay Rowdies completed a three-goal comeback to top the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3-2 in the Florida Derby on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.

Fort Lauderdale led 2-0 at the 34 minute mark, but a goal from Willie Hunt in first-half stoppage time put the Rowdies on the comeback trail. Anthony Wallace equalized the affair with a stunning goal in the 62nd minute to set up Wagner's late winner. All three goals came from the Rowdies' backline as Tampa Bay scored multiple goals in a game for the first time this season.

"I have to commend the players for having the resilience to play for the whole game even when we were 2-nil down," Rowdies coach Ricky Hill said. "We missed a penalty when we were 2-nil down. A lot of teams could have dropped their heads and felt sorry for themselves, but this lot didn't. Credit to our guys for showing great character and commitment." Mark Anderson and Shawn Chin scored goals to put the Strikers ahead in the 19th and 34th minute, respectively, but the Rowdies piled the pressure on in search of a goal as the half continued on.

Georgi Hristov earned a penalty kick for Tampa Bay in the 34th minute, but Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Oka Nikolov made the save to keep the Rowdies off the board. Nikolov was omnipresent in the opening half, saving from point-blank range on a number of occasions as Lucky Mkosana and Christophe Lallet wreaked havoc in the box. Nikolov recorded nine saves in the half to keep the Rowdies off the board until late.

Fort Lauderdale's Carlos Salazar was ejected from the match after picking up a second yellow card in the 41st minute.

Hunt cut the deficit in half with a headed goal in first-half stoppage time, his first goal of the season.

Wallace pulled the Rowdies even with a sharp right-footed shot from well outside the 18-yard box that dipped and curved between defenders before buzzing past Nikolov and into the net.

The Strikers looked to have secured a point before Wagner's strike sent the fans home happy and sent the Rowdies into Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup tie against Orlando City with some momentum.

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