Rowdies settle for another tie

Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish hopes a good night's sleep will give him a positive outlook on Thursday's 1-1 tie with NASL leader Vancouver.

FC Tampa Bay (6-8-9), which holds the eighth and final playoff spot, earned a point against one of the USSF Division II's top teams. However, Dalglish couldn't help but feel a little let down after what he considered a dominating performance against the Whitecaps (9-3-12).

"Probably when I wake up (today) I'll see it as a good point," Dalglish said. "But as I see it now, it's two points lost."

The Whitecaps struck in the seventh minute on a shot from 25 yards out by former Wharton High player Blake Wagner.

"The shot from Blake was a scorcher and sometimes it's just a good shot," Rowdies goalkeeper Josh Lambo said. "It was really moving and I saw it late, but it was a great shot from Blake."

Rowdies forward Aaron King evened the match with a cleanup in the box after a cross from Jonny Steele was turned away by two defenders. After the ball was deflected his way, King followed with a right-footed shot to the keeper's left.

"Steele and I made eye contact before he served it in, and he always tells me to make my run and he'll put the ball there," King said. "Fortunately the defenders couldn't handle it and I was right there to bang it in."

The 28th-minute goal was King's ninth, tying him with Austin's Eddie Johnson for second-most in the league. Portland's Ryan Pore has 12.

Immediately after the goal, King left with a strained right hamstring. He later said the move was precautionary.

The Rowdies' offense then had the better of the play but couldn't capitalize, banging four shots off the frame. The Rowdies outshot the Whitecaps 17-6.

Dalglish said the tie did send a message to potential playoff opponents.

"Anyone who watches us play won't fancy playing us in the playoffs," he said. "Everybody will be fearing us in that moment. ... The way we are playing, and if our luck changes a little, there is nobody we should fear and nobody who can give us a game if we play like that."