FC Tampa Bay falls to Carolina in sloppy loss

Ever since Takuya Yamada's winning goal in the 85th minute of FC Tampa Bay's season opener on April 9, the team has been mired in an offensive struggle. After five games, the team has three goals.

One of those goals came Saturday night against the Carolina RailHawks (3-1-1), but it wasn't enough as FC Tampa Bay (1-2-2) lost 3-1 in front of 3,325 fans at Al Lang Stadium.

"Congratulations to Carolina, they've got three goals and won the game," coach Ricky Hill said. "But from our perspective, it's a game we should never have lost. … If I analyze the three goals that they scored, they're three of the cheapest goals that I'm ever going to see. All three goals were very poor defensively."

Defender Andres Arango was ruled out of the game with a right ankle injury just 90 minutes prior to the game.

NASL player of the month Etienne Barbara had a hand in all three Carolina goals.

Barbara opened the scoring in the 20th minute with his fifth goal in as many games. He beat a high offsides trap and slotted a shot just below a diving Jeff Attinella.

Three minutes later, FC Tampa Bay midfielder Pascal Millien was celebrating his first goal of the season after a hard line-drive shot snuck inside the post to equalize it.

Barbara was back at it again in the 52nd minute when he picked up an assist on Brian Farber's go-ahead goal. FC Tampa Bay botched a clearance, and Barbara slid the ball across to Farber, who was waiting on the back post.

Barbara netted his second goal of the night in the 76th minute to put it out of reach. His shot was to Attinella's left, but deflected off defender Omar Jarun's back.

"I cannot hold Jeff accountable for any of the goals whatsoever," Hill said. "Unfortunately for him, we've gifted them opportunities for nice looks on goal.

"It was a very good start for him, apart from the result."

FC Tampa Bay hosts expansion-side FC Edmonton on Wednesday night at 7.