Stoppage-time goal earns Rowdies tie

The Rowdies have started to get into a frustrating cycle of falling behind opponents and trying to play catch-up.

Fortunately for Tampa Bay on Sunday, a stoppage-time, right-foot skipping shot from Yendry Diaz earned Tampa Bay (6-9-10) a 2-2 tie against AC St. Louis (5-11-8) and one point in the United States Soccer Federation Division 2 standings.

The draw moves the Rowdies back into the eighth and final playoff place with 28 points and a goal differential record against NSC Minnesota.

According to Rowdies goalkeeper Daryl Sattler, the playing from behind is starting to frustrate the team that had to come from behind against Vancouver to draw 1-1 Aug. 19, lost 2-1 to Carolina on Thursday and spotted St. Louis a 2-0 lead.

"It's starting to feel like a broken record sometimes," Sattler said. "Going down 1-0 in the first 10 minutes when it's a must-win game is very frustrating."

The first goal came in the fifth minute on an own goal on the Rowdies on a ball sent into the box by St. Louis midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer that deflected off defender Rob Valentino while he tried to kick the ball wide.

St. Louis put in a second goal in the first half on a Mike Ambersley 25-yard header in the 27th minute.

From there, the Rowdies offense had the better of the play and was able to get a goal when a pass from Stanley Nyazamba found Jonny Steele, who sent a crisp, right foot shot far post.

The Rowdies' unlucky streak continued as other strong first-half chances - including two from Maykel Galindo - failed to get past the keeper's line.

Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish said the team has struggled with getting behind, but he took a lot of positives from his team's ability to hold control.

"We absolutely dominated tonight," Dalglish said. "Yeah we're not happy with the way we're playing, but it's not doom and gloom out there."

Tampa Bay has five regular-season matches left, including three against teams ahead of them in the standings, but Sattler said he is confident the Rowdies will find points and stay in the playoff picture.

"We'll take the points from any game," Sattler said. "The bottom team in this league can beat the top team so that gives us hope."