Late goal gives Rowdies draw

A dire situation can turn celebratory in an instant in soccer and Thursday night at Steinbrenner Field, the mood quickly changed on the Rowdies sideline as a stoppage-time cleanup goal by Aaron King earned a 1-1 draw against Austin.

"This was a real confidence boost," Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish said. "It almost feels like a victory right now."

Five minutes into the second half, Aztex forward Maxwell Griffin took a cross from Leonard Griffin and flicked in a goal over the head of keeper Josh Lambo. The Rowdies starters maintained but had trouble making anything of their second-half chances.

All that changed with late substitutions as the returning health of the side proved pivotal for the Rowdies. King came in for the final 20 minutes of the match, along with help up top from Maykel Galindo, who entered in the 68th minute. In stoppage time Rob Valentino fired a ball off the post and it fell right in front of King, who sealed the draw on his team-leading 10th goal of the year.

"They came on and made the difference," Dalglish said. "I said to the guys before the game, 'Don't be embarrassed to not be able to last 90 minutes when you're coming back to fitness.'

"I just wanted them to give us everything they've got because we have substitutions on the bench who can come in and make a difference and that's what they did."

The win earned the Rowdies one point in the United States Soccer Federation Division 2 standings. FC Tampa Bay is in ninth place and one position out of the playoffs. The Rowdies trail eighth-place Minnesota by five points with a crucial match between the two set for Sept. 24 at Steinbrenner Field.

King said after the match how important it was to leave with a point in the standings against the top-scoring team in the league.

"There has been desperation for the last couple months," King said. "We are trying to get it together and make that run to the playoffs."

Dalglish said the point, although needed, isn't as crucial as a win against Minnesota on Sept. 24.

"The point doesn't mean that much," Dalglish said. "We have to beat Minnesota when they come anyway and then we win the head-to-head."