Rowdies rally for a 2-1 victory behind Wheeler

Aaron Wheeler's first goal of the season gave the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against the Carolina RailHawks on Friday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The 6-foot-4 Wheeler finished from Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe's cross in the 84th minute to cap a strong second half performance by the Rowdies (2-1-2).

"It just shows how much character we've got and how much these guys play for each other and play for the Rowdies," Coach Paul Dalglish said. "It's a proud night tonight, because there's not many teams that won here last year, I think only two teams came here all season and won, ... so for us to come here and grind out a win and show such fitness levels and effort and desire makes you so pleased."

The RailHawks had gone 11-2-2 at home last season, but fell to their second home defeat of the season against the Rowdies with Wheeler and Adjeman-Pamboe playing crucial roles after coming on as second-half substitutes. Wheeler in particular made a big difference after being brought on at the break.

"I just felt that we needed a little bit of a presence up there," Dalglish said. "At times we were passing it and passing it and passing it in the first half, and even when we got around the box we were taking too many touches and when you take too many touches you give the defenders time to recover.

"I just wanted somebody up there with a little more presence who could hold the ball up there and give the midfield time to join in, and he did that and it was great for him to score a goal as well."

Jesuit grad Joe Donoho, making his Rowdies debut, had tied the game in the 61st minute, rising to head home from inside the penalty area off Jeremy Christie's free kick.

"It's going to give Joe great confidence," Dalglish said. "It's his first ever game in professional soccer so it'll give him great confidence that he deserves to be at this level and that he can make a difference at this level in the future."

The goal came a minute after Rowdies captain Julian Valentin had come close to tying the game, his shot from outside the penalty area hitting the crossbar. Christie, playing his final game before joining the New Zealand squad for the World Cup, also went close in the 77th minute, his shot going just over.

The RailHawks (1-2-2) had been the better side in the first half, and took the lead in the 42nd minute. Carolina's Matt Watson was brought down in the penalty area by Yendry Diaz, and Gregory Richardson slotted his penalty kick home to give the RailHawks a 1-0 lead at half time.

The RailHawks also produced chances in the second half to retake the lead or force a late equalizer. Cory Elenio was denied by Rowdies goalkeeper Josh Lambo in the 74th minute. Lambo, starting in place of Daryl Sattler who had to sit with a triceps injury, saved with his legs after Elenio broke through unmarked. Diaz also made a crucial block to deny the RailHawks a late equalizer.

The victory allowed the Rowdies to move up to fourth place in the USL Conference of the USSF Division II, and fifth overall. They next face a rematch of their home opener, travelling to face the Austin Aztex on Wednesday in the second game of a three-game road trip.