Rowdies earn tie through Kljestan

Second-half substitute Gordon Kljestan continued the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies' penchant for late goals as his 88th-minute free kick earned the team a 3-3 tie with USSF Division II leaders the Austin Aztex on Wednesday night.

Brought on with just more than 20 minutes to go, Kljestan got his opportunity when Aaron Wheeler was brought down near the middle of the field and about 25 yards from goal. He curled a shot around the defensive wall and out of the reach of Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo to earn the Rowdies a valuable road point.

"It was a great goal," Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish said. "He's got a sweet left foot and he put it in the corner and the goalkeeper had nothing he could have done with it. It was a great free kick, and he's capable of that with his left foot."

It was the third time the Rowdies had rallied on the night, and Eddie Johnson put the the Aztex in position for a second straight victory in the 54th minute when he scored his second goal of the game off a long throw-in flicked on at the near post.

Prior to that, former University of South Florida defender Yohance Marshall had given the Aztex the lead in the 29th minute, heading home a free kick from just outside the penalty area, but Wheeler equalized six minutes later from close range.

Wheeler's overall performance, winning the free kick in addition to scoring his second goal of the season, was pleasing to Dalglish.

"That was kind of what we've been expecting from Wheeler," Dalglish said. "All throughout preseason he was fantastic and that's what we all knew he was capable of, the performance he put in tonight.

"He really is a unique forward in this league with his size and his aerial ability and he's a real handful up there for defenders. He's worked very hard this week on his movement and making himself available and he got his reward tonight with a goal and a very good performance."

Both teams then scored in first-half stoppage time, Johnson scoring his first to regain the lead for the Aztex before Joe Donoho answered on a corner kick for the Rowdies, the Jesuit grad's second goal in as many games.

Johnson and Jamie Watson were constant sources of chances for the Aztex, but Rowdies goalkeeper Josh Lambo was sharp as the second half went on to keep the deficit at one goal.

The Rowdies have scored in the final 10 minutes in their past four games, with each goal earning a victory or a draw. Now they head to St. Louis for a game on Saturday night hoping to complete an undefeated three-game road trip.

"They should be ready to go again on Saturday, and it's important that we go for three points," Dalglish said. "With the talent we've got in our squad we'll be disappointed if we don't get three points."